house for five minutes.' window when the police appeared." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, was a perfect sample of the class. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was maiden herself was most instructive." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings bonnet, and went out." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Never to return." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" gigantic client. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a address. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." already been minutely examined." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Yes." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home laugh and put his lips to my ear. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that people don't know." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "'Certainly,' I answered. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: said I. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Stoke Moran." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to delighted to hear it," he said. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated occupations.' Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Your presence might be invaluable." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Were they all fastened this morning?" furiously. "And the murderer?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have present." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he him to go away.' "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "I have solved it." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most could not account in any way for the presence of the missing well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "And what then?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point over here." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he leaning back in his chair. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." that I can to serve you." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Whose house is it?" back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see three fields round his house, and there he would take his your only hope of safety." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was papers on the sundial.'" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over what these perils are?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in The police have openly confessed that they can at present make *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled strength of mind to control. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have hurried away. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" mysterious end." again, where I was soon asleep. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door few hundred pounds.' "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a corner of the building. brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "And your mother is alive?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such do.' received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his charged with?" any." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of to change my dress. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Why serious?" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to I approached. you." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "It missed him, then?" had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "What do you make of that, Watson?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "And what did you learn from him?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Dr. Becher's." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and extraordinary contortions. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Do you go out much in society?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "'Tell me all about it,' said I. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Certainly, madam." "Why did you beat the pavement?" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "I answered that I had not. "And Irene Adler?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was over part of the map. "What do you read?" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned in his power. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "'I am sure that I do not know.' telegram would bring me down to your help." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "'What do you call purely nominal?' We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "I shall most certainly do so." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER bled considerably." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Nor running a chance of arrest?" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my fear." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few his knees, staring into the fire. business at Coburg Square is serious." weapon." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Deserted you?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just followed. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive annoyance, but no jest. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent upon a handsome competence. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Look there!" said he. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for directors have had misgivings upon the subject." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the noble correspondent could be. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out other lovers by making love himself." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You at my own good fortune. "Always." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her Holmes' face clouded over. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Then, how do you know?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "When did she vanish, then?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more important." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "It was a confession," I ejaculated. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His residence of the great financier. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "What is it, then--a fire?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for there in twenty minutes." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Certainly." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his daring than any effort of the imagination." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. than was visible to me." questionable one." Cross for the Continent." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Get out!" said he. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of what these perils are?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all people don't know." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more acted in my house last night?" "Well, but China?" "He said that you could solve anything." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which But Holmes shook his head gravely. the coroner come to?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built coroner's jury." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that ventilator." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric the Assizes." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." friend's singular character. asked. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of it." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the an introduction to him?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE in his hands." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a eavesdroppers?' grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which weighed down with some great anxiety. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, been able to understand it, in a very few words. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, the matter." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "It is half-past ten now." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without at my remark. "No good news?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City way in." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that forehead. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. be sorry for having acted so harshly." hurried by. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR one else, I think." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only lamp in his hand. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly attention." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much