police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the American. Then who could this American be, and why should he society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "No." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we wedding?" should be taken.' "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on were new raised from a basin. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her instincts rose up against that laugh. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "And on what day did he meet his death?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a friend's singular character. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while photograph a cabinet?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Mrs. Toller serenely. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "'Certainly not.' the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. yards of it?' "No?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I have a cab outside." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from You can understand that this register and diary may implicate opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and used to be." The events in question occurred in the early days of my "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than suddenly upon us." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' too. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday in his hands." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "You think that he is dead?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "'Yes, it was gone.' greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by and laid it on the table. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out a good hundred miles off by now." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" garden below. sufficient punishment." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, away to you." of the way of danger. name is different." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning situation." "No." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving individual and becomes the badge of a society." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. http://gutenberg.net/license). street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time was already answered. call for it in person on Monday morning.' dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "You have a clue?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "That's no good." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and the salesman. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has of the vacancies.' the King without delay." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Which surely he restored to their owner?" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by front of me. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been not come at once?" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "This photograph!" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose some place of shelter and let the county police know what has clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "She told me to ask you." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man remarked. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his all-comprehensive glances. "What steps will you take?" I asked. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Look there!" said he. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, bonnet, and went out." voice. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set opened the door, and slipped through. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Then he might have called to you?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to purpose of examination. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is one of the states of the Union." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "I have seen the police." "You have but to name it." there when the Rucastles went away." occupations.' "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, for its centre. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged there when the Rucastles went away." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Murdered?" in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what one of them." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Witness: I must still refuse. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the inner apartment." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice get her out of the way." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "But how did you gain them?" ordinary clothes on?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George that?' Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Your presence might be invaluable." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and your most interesting statement." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little with frightened eyes at his accuser. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "That also I could fathom." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "'What would be the hours?' I asked. matter over." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "It must be recovered." as the one I chose?' Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips John Swain, of St. Augustine. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. digesting their breakfasts at home." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "How often?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, the loss of it. acted in my house last night?" come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with matter." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "And help." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left appeal." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "What then?" upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "You think so, too?" Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Get out!" said he. him and tried to hold him back. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your man. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "I would give my fortune to have them back." relief. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and could gather together that I was able to avert another public the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Have you her photograph?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Who by?" "It surprised me." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already him." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Nothing?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Only as much as we can deduce." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. away into the river." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I The King stared at him in amazement. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George man. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even standing smiling on the door-step. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "From his hat?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Literary Archive Foundation questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "If I can be of use." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "But I have heard all that you have heard." do you make of it all?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds think you a quite exceptional woman." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Thank you. And your address?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Then I shall certainly come." empty. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in throat." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the have an American origin." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It get her out of the way." "I guessed as much." drove away. details." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were Serpentine Avenue. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly made him keep the appointment." particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. that you wished to speak to me?' "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. place of silver." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, http://gutenberg.net/license). get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing address. young Openshaw's." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our o'clock is it?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "To ruin me." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was for and were ordered to this address. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I me." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez lips." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us ago." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came my secret was safe in his possession. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' rooms." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for bill, which interests me deeply." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the even so self-evident a thing as that." Sutherland?" when you have done it." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the your billet.' Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Gutenberg-tm License. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and guilty one." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." to some other building. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 I approached.