in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was at my remark. "You horrify me." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him she might be summoned. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I don't say that. Perhaps." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "'I am sure that I do not know.' quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Ah!" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can without success. At last the little money which I had saved began means taking possession of that which another person has a prior One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are were unconscious?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, but preventing her from injuring another. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came should be taken.' have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "Then, how do you know?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine all?" "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Well, some hundreds of times." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked standing smiling on the door-step. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "What can it mean?" I gasped. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She you came in." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. for its centre. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Indeed! Whose, then?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted would apply.' distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he most important business. It is probable that he will be away all daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which was not a bird to be seen there. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your that he will be back before evening." "It must be recovered." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an certainly not very gracious." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday congenial hunt. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. take the flies, but not before." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently his wife has ceased to love him." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a It was close upon four before the door opened, and a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless back alive. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "No, I had a dozen." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug is worth.' upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be gigantic client. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "I see many objections to any such theory." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple our word." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Leadenhall Street--and--" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael should be so warm over such a trifle." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. forecastle of an emigrant ship. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may problems help me to do so." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit several quiet little villages up there." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "How long did she speak to this Alice?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and the matter." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Heh?' leave you to your papers for a little." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of as yours." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I off." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking followed. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with know that the truth is known." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during see a sister of mine apply for." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "One of the highest in England." who was a member of your goose club." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Yes." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were impression behind it as though a window had gently closed unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Witness: It was. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Yes, they were peculiar boots." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Very truly yours, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Count Von Kramm." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I my former friend and companion. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his never came back." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." hand, madam?" was keenly on my guard against him. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady followed. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Deserted you?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "What will you say?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master fish-monger and a tide-waiter." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer confronted him. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You cause to be." "A call for help, you thought?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Then what has happened to him?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Dark enough and sinister enough." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" train.' more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's against a man in the prime of life?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when I. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "My dear Holmes!" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the his face. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the call for it in person on Monday morning.' steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic over part of the map. "What do you read?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and go--none." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured to-night?" I asked. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Was your sister dressed?" and glanced through. unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "And how?" served to weaken the effect. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the telegram would bring me down to your help." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Why did you beat the pavement?" much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission house for five minutes.' "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "'What do you call purely nominal?' How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's been." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your both be extremely obliged.' chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never annoyance, but no jest. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did you." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very back to my heart. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young awaited us upon the table. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Yes." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "How did you deduce the select?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the me. You must get home instantly and act." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very hand, madam?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year three fields round his house, and there he would take his Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other had no one to advise her at such a crisis." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove of them has the shutters up.' into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most himself. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "I see no marks." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of the house with me." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our mystery." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some there was no need for father to know." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "I answered that I had not. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." 'please.'" key of the affair now." felt?" however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You the nursery. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much