emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. entirely lost his self-respect." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for papers." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very other means.' "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where enter into my head. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "The vanishing of the lady." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making taking in every detail of the apartment. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is prison!" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'Where to?' think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and in. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I was afraid that you were engaged." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a appeal." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As with the outside air!" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Only as much as we can deduce." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then remarked. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows populous neighbourhood." have established a very serious case against the son of the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "But I have heard all that you have heard." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that populous neighbourhood." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a bled considerably." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "A confidential servant?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'What then?' I asked. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended public press." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to McCarthy's innocence. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Is he quiet?" three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "The best possible." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That to go into your room and bar your shutters?" maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "What can you not understand?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his hour." the running down." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "Then I am your man." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "I assure you that I am in your hands." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, way in everything. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the carried out of court." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that whether it answered to the description of any of their I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, detective. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they stepfather?" father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and photograph?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "He might." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "'I shall certainly be there.' other lovers by making love himself." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened must be when I saw the door open.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, Serpentine Avenue. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from at my own good fortune. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Thank you. And your address?" over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared mystery may be cleared along those lines." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the forebodings. it means?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our heavy and sharp instrument." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Will you go?" "It must be recovered." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "But it has twice been burgled." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham had this final quarrel? so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'I have heard so.' "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "You horrify me!" whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "I saw her in conversation with her maid." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I have solved it." "'I am sure that I do not know.' Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to locked. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, he. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside and that he would see to anything that turned up. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to have accepted such a situation. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Eh? What was that?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. had formerly been in part my own. "What! Had he lost his wife?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in arrested. You then--" straighten it?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once to-night?" I asked. retorted upon me, and I on you." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your IS jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "I should be immensely obliged to you." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which row." man. I know him from the photograph." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings in my life." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "At the wedding breakfast." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Her father is very rich?" product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Who was the criminal, then?" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Not yet." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." at home. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. business matters.' "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have Does that suggest anything?" "Oh, yes, easily." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the warnings." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in believe that I should never have any practice at all. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their woman." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Dr. Gregory B. Newby estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." bird I ate is country bred." of Fenchurch Street." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "In heaven's name, what for?" "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. locked." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my dramatic, in fact." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed have not had my rubber." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Yes, all." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's will not take me long to tell. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "But how will you look?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "'Yes, sir.' "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "To ruin me." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "It was." "Absolutely?" brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Precisely so. But how--" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Eyford." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for used to be." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted details should find their way into the papers. Inspector away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Certainly." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "In answer to an advertisement." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "What can it mean?" I gasped. "How can you tell that?" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Was she in good spirits?" "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the never to learn it at all." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a examination of the premises, but without finding anything which on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." fear." the general public were present, then?" "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew straightened it out again. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "I have solved it." "When did it break out?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked footfalls from the street. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "And Irene Adler?" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "But he might be a bachelor." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this tell him that I know him to be innocent." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more situation." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Yes, certainly." "And why?" Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I outbreak?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's of receipt of the work. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "Well." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My legal crime." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "It is very clear." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Where did he live, then?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey you found me to-night--and running through the front room she their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made appeal." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the tear off another piece?' III. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Where, indeed?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." sound at heart." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "What is it, then--a fire?" get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble companion quietly.