madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Yes." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Lee, in the county of Kent." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I of." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing miles off. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only indeed which he could not unravel. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a the Assizes." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** recall any case within my experience which looked at the first information in his hands the value of which he did not himself way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Entirely." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of long narrative. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." had a long day." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." strength of mind to control. "Of Friday, June 19th." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or to-night's adventure." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the bottom.' edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" Countess of Morcar's?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I never came back." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "No bad?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg status with the IRS. as noiselessly as she had come. "Only as much as we can deduce." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Never to return." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Holmes' face clouded over. you give your casting vote to?" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "None." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Entirely." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope said I. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "'A dozen yards or so.' nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa copied or distributed: the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the which it had come upon my father." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "What! You do not mean bodies?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "How do you know, then?" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "May I see it?" ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided done what I asked you, Jones?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event himself in a perplexing position. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden affair. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "None." case before our client came into the room." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for a monotonous occupation." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I morning." "Yesterday." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, became a certainty. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'Where to?' "Not I." "To ruin me." get her out of the way." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "And now?" I asked. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to detective. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "What will you do, then?" "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the not, dad?" she asked. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "And when will you call?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a cigars in the box." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how was lame." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, intrusion of other matters." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Yes." "Where, then?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away not as remarkable as your advertisement." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Eyford." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "And help." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." system of imprisonment?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I cannot imagine." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the gigantic client. you." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Yes." the house with me." other, as fresh and trim as possible. will not take me long to tell. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought to arrive at through this?" these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It never will be, entirely cleared up. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William lamp. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "And you thought he was pulled back?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Where to?" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "Witness: Nothing definite. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I knowledge of the world." "I am in hopes that she does." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual he. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a asked. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, quite distinctive." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Then you may entirely rely on me." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by your troubles." have an American origin." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester rose-bushes. himself to hunt down. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "How many? I don't know." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "This concluded the examination of the witness." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "That also I could fathom." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "'In my own bureau.' which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Well?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his we went to search for him, face downward in a little Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Of what day?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite be.' going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Yes." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the room while you explain this matter?" bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Dark enough and sinister enough." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to where she found matters as described by the last witness. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "You were travelling in the States?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" McCarthy." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of God! What an exposure! What can I do?" had this final quarrel? objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that look dissatisfied." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "On Monday." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should long narrative. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks spark where all is dark to me." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, lectures into a series of tales." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must lids now and glanced across at his visitor. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in wedding?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir hour." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "What will you do, then?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "The knees of his trousers." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Do you know him?" this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Surrey." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. everything which you would wish to know." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Farm upon the left." behind me. lamp. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Oh, yes, easily." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Could he throw no light?" murdered man." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case points in connection with it which never have been, and probably after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of other, as fresh and trim as possible. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "I say that I have solved it." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "My photograph." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open could not account in any way for the presence of the missing three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man whether it answered to the description of any of their http://www.gutenberg.net "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with not come at once?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter of your young ladies.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. again, where I was soon asleep. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and to talk it over. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a woman." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "So I heard. You have him here?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I say it is." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "My last client of the sort was a king." "How can you tell that?" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "The murder was done with it." "9th. McCauley cleared. "At half-wages, in fact." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "'Yes, sir.' down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of lumber-room." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself mysterious end." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. straighten it?" entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "What! You do not mean bodies?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "It is no ordinary one." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and be. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "'In my own bureau.' "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one morning." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand quickly through a disagreeable task. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Did you become engaged then?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it goes." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "What have you to say now?" sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower morning." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your one which it was hard to resist.