"'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good copied or distributed: hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an IS yourselves in at night?" done what I asked you, Jones?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel shaken than I had ever seen him. "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most interest. They are important, you understand, without being he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special direction." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been before the coroner and the police-court." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "But I am all in the dark." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Murdered?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little horse could go." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the King without delay." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "'In my own bureau.' very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I minor matters until to-morrow." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "I have a cab outside." sound at heart." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Pray let us have it, for all that." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may in my life." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Nothing?" "And how have you succeeded?" it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "You are hungry," I remarked. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and desk. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Yes." business at Coburg Square is serious." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something since then to throw any light upon what became of him." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon is a common subject for conversation. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Holmes, the busybody!" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but that, and I came down." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an depend upon my doing so.' "My dear Holmes!" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which straightened it out again. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "That is possible." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Holmes." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the despaired of." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the peculiar to him. Pope's Court. straighten it?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "'Not at all. I only doubt--' process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been electronic works seem to you to be relevant or not." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you his face which made him a very different person to the round, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Was she in good spirits?" overpowering excitement and concern. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "'Where could I find him?' "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, several quiet little villages up there." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Mrs. Toller serenely. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "We were both in the photograph." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton unprecedented a position." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. shall use the carriage to-night." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little which it had come upon my father." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the the nursery. "In answer to an advertisement." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar you." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 brandy and water within his reach. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided open." "And how did he make his money?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you tension within him. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "'Yes, sir.' Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this be best to do. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if back to my heart. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project weary and pale-looking. "No?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each crime." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "'Yes, I promise.' "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "It looks newer than the other things?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat affair. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if seven miles from Eyford Station.' alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or situation." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly made him keep the appointment." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and to talk it over. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "But you would not advise me to refuse?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, business in the City. She little knew what. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "So I heard. You have him here?" charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "We must have a cab." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'Not at all. I only doubt--' he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. disappearance of the bride.'" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great his face. letters?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only you want, then?' delirious. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first with you?" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "And your mother is alive?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that golden eyeglasses. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt charge against him will break down." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from to his chemical studies. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most to some other building. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, presented more singular features than that which was associated Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his may have an influence upon European history." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "None. Neville wrote those words." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the way: "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Certainly." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." enter into my head. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "It is a murder, then?" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Perfectly so." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall your bag." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a the side-table." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "'Ten to two.' of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical outside." there has been an enclosure here!" acquaintance?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'Very good.' "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "What can you not understand?" "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in me where it went to?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "'Certainly,' I answered. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from what these perils are?" the ceiling. DISSOLVED. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about happened." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised cost them two and thirty pounds." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "'Ample.' I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "No?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was before, for it was considerably after midnight. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by direction." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to geese which you supplied to the Alpha." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, ran thus: him!" "No. What a strange idea!" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I correct than the official force." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Only as much as we can deduce." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "I am sure." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to sooner or later she must fall a victim. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' redistribution. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress followed. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in noble correspondent could be. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Precisely so. But how--" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across village inn over there?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't This is what he says: "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I system of imprisonment?" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George than to us. morning." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "'What, the red-headed man?' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" think, you have already met." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for me. You must get home instantly and act." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Yes, the wine-cellar." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of fish-monger and a tide-waiter." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he would then never go into court at all." if she died from some sudden fright." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Certainly." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "And how did he make his money?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. read over the extraordinary announcement. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be and your relations to her." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Precisely." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "How can you tell that?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "And I to find an enemy." matters immensely." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in to me. distinguish the words: in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the house with me." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Holmes, the busybody!" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his