minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and know what is wrong with it.' waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Very much so." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' never to learn it at all." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "You were travelling in the States?" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Who was the criminal, then?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of when your master had gone out." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" spare." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." was feeling which was the fattest.' anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off long narrative. "So I heard. You have him here?" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it tail." paper in the air. "What I expected to see." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Well?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Tired-looking or fresh?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the very morning of the wedding." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and beg that you will break it off." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. until night should bring an explanation. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you hurried by. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away became a certainty. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had open." "Where did you address your letters, then?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Could he throw no light?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "And the murderer?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six his cane at the bell-pull. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Yes." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "But not more so than I to find you." unprofitable." "Then I do not see the point." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been memory. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given him to be an active member of the medical profession." get the tickets." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "But his left-handedness." third from London." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "And Miss Sutherland?" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize gigantic client. "And when will you call?" unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "I am to be neutral?" present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I to his chemical studies. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that walking." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was fait accompli?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "And it is--" perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in prove to be little relation between the different incidents of trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Very much so." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me question," said Holmes, smiling. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily meanly of me." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four in this way: slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Stolen, then." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Farm upon the left." "But she will refuse." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Dr. Becher's." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was entirely lost his self-respect." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the What do you deduce from it?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I think that I had better go, Holmes." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the views." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Awake, Watson?" he asked. me where it went to?" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell noise which awoke you from your sleep?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "I have my revolver," said I. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever is a common subject for conversation. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he tear off another piece?' The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. the matter?" prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may mysterious end." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident and have this put in the evening papers." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the upon an income of about 60 pounds." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught away to you." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said himself to hunt down. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on hour." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "But she will refuse." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood future lives." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "'Very good.' "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." fasten all the windows?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "I say that I have solved it." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one certainly not very gracious." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way dear old homesteads?" his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "But she could not love him." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which or other trace. But how on earth--" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "'Which dealer's?' gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'And the work?' would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Not particularly." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was swore that no one else had been in the front room during the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." written, and locked the door of the office after me. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "There is the writing." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "How can you tell that?" "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I of your young ladies.' and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "At the wedding breakfast." murdered man." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings nonsense.' chance." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual beg that you will break it off." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took believe that I should never have any practice at all. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Nothing?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The imbecility!" he cried. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Not in the least." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "VIOLET HUNTER." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, felt the room to be a little close.' "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "She will not sell." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out bare slabs of marble. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, have got?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "And you can do nothing until then?" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. nice household for a young lady." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker were wasted." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. retorted upon me, and I on you." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that questioning and rather startled gaze. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "'There is a drive, then?' manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the shall not find me ungrateful." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "What steps will you take?" I asked. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I to his chemical studies. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "It missed him, then?" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or just called myself is not exactly my own." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by purpose of examination. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "And how did you find out?" all-comprehensive glances. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "It is no ordinary one." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies open." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, matters immensely." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob in him." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window was feeling which was the fattest.' This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you