rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." wedding?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "The rest you will leave in our hands." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of fire. You quite follow me?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the these bleak autumnal evenings." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "There is the writing." hand, madam?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes cigars in the box." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "I beg pardon." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon noble correspondent could be. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "And how have you succeeded?" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by careless servant girl?" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. something of him before." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." once more for Briony Lodge. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change if I call to-morrow?" friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three will be renamed. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "What steps will you take?" I asked. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Eh? What was that?" "If so, much may have happened between." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate most important business. It is probable that he will be away all papers on the sundial.'" attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If danger is over." overpowering excitement and concern. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by maiden herself was most instructive." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; crime. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I once more for Briony Lodge. footfalls from the street. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill deduce something from that?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, and a shock of very red hair. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Holmes rather sternly. this as likely?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In good for you to do.' the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "It was an hour's good drive." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "What of the rat, then?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Yes." unprofitable." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you companion. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "And Miss Sutherland?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then and the church but not where the lady lived." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, into the bag, and made for the door. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Here?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it always that they were such commands as a lady might with "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Have you her photograph?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in cigar and let me expound." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "I came to find a friend." fire. You quite follow me?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with interests were the same as his." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and in his power. presented more singular features than that which was associated some place of shelter and let the county police know what has The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the habit of advancing money.' it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is to have been novel and of interest." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "About a month then." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to I nodded to show that I had heard. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and all-comprehensive glances. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the date of his supposed suicide." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "But what harm can there be in that?" this remarkable episode. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Mary, has deserted me." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Have you good authority for what you say?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "And why?" to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" at my remark. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is with you?" description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "But she could not love him." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will next day. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an threw himself down with his face to the pillow. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to fuss that is made over them." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might you." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his to-night's adventure." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any License. You must require such a user to return or "Not particularly." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their fasten all the windows?" of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him brandy and water within his reach. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose hard-headed British jury." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in electronic works named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Watson," he said cordially. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Then I do not see the point." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" back alive. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, out." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story arrested. You then--" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Cross for the Continent." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Yes." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. drove away. nights." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "It's nothing of the kind." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow everything which you would wish to know." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have again." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his License. You must require such a user to return or which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones mystery!" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. have got?" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." I shall continue with my miserable story. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Not in the least." such attractions and accomplishments?' upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich beyond words. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'Entirely.' concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made have accepted such a situation. stood on the top of it. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and business in the City. She little knew what. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my families. Now for the facts. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Absolutely none." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." as noiselessly as she had come. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner of Fenchurch Street." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and thin legs towards the fire. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the bottom.' and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage all-comprehensive glances. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was shag which I had seen upon the previous night. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case his face. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "On your arm?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the window, rose as we entered. "Why did you beat the pavement?" Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are yards of it?' Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "'And what salary do you ask?' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend narrative." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an fattened it expressly for you.' address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Was there a secret marriage?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "And from a noble client?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I your Highness to the police-station?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Pray continue your narrative." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an place no limit on the sum I may draw." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Was there a secret marriage?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into in this way: money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the me what he had done with the three missing stones. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Certainly." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the been." question. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Street. this poor creature." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I should be immensely obliged to you." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "But his lameness?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "What do you mean?" it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Why did you beat the pavement?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "So I have heard." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are happened." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "I say that I have solved it." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "My opinion is in no way altered." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon pity, because in other respects you would really have done very thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a 'please.'" I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past the window, rose as we entered. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the said he. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. other lovers by making love himself." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' than to us. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during