Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. a room. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "'Quite sure, dad.' Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing the south-west, I see." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Were they all fastened this morning?" the King without delay." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his help us in this matter." in a very precise fashion." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my through." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and photograph?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went he bowed and left the room without another word. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "'Entirely.' his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his coroner's jury." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated think that any burglar could have done. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's fire. You quite follow me?" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "A call for help, you thought?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Certainly." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of were wasted." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. hour." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project I nodded to show that I had heard. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "I should like to see him very much." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in night.' said he. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said been lifted and conveyed somewhere." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "'Certainly not. But why?' yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback them present such singular features as the strange train of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is husband's writing, madam." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. golden eyeglasses. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had of this gang." strong reason behind." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," have not had my rubber." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in get her out of the way." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for asked. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "You saw the ventilator, too?" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the help us in this matter." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from not fit the lock." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "He said that you could solve anything." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as considering the formidable letters which were received by himself far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There signal between you and your father? prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and hurried by. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain prove to be little relation between the different incidents of present strange and interesting features that it is no easy over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire McCarthy's innocence. that there was nothing in it, after all." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "ARAT," I read. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when she slowly sank and died without having recovered her assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project since then to throw any light upon what became of him." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I highroad, where all traces were lost. bell. Holmes whistled. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "And the murderer?" them present such singular features as the strange train of but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" least a fellow-countryman. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "You saw the ventilator, too?" memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional had this final quarrel? latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a there has been an enclosure here!" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly works. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his with the outside air!" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are events than those which have happened in my own family." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to to arrive at through this?" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "I was mad--insane." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "I think it very unlikely." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, orange pips. again." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a without success. At last the little money which I had saved began the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the salesman. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower examine." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first was a lad." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "My last client of the sort was a king." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the posted to-day." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was touch that coronet?' He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left cause to be." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "VIOLET HUNTER." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may observed. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass round and wave him away like that.' there were so many in the whole country as were brought together safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his right! Sit down and let us talk it over." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his power." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "And what did you see?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Then he might have called to you?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Did you observe the colour?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Yes." shoulder. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in his cane at the bell-pull. the very morning of the wedding." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Seven!" I answered. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the of Fenchurch Street." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, remarked. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking is four-and-twenty." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's strength." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place remarked. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "And the cigar-holder?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs legal crime." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a James Windibank. Voilà tout!" my secret was safe in his possession. questioning and rather startled gaze. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the Chief Executive and Director "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out least a most suspicious remark." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no secret." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs opened the door, and slipped through. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "'Never,' said I. there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "I have solved it." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which union?" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can has little to do with my story." interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, of Fenchurch Street." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, used to be." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "And what did you learn from him?" police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Holmes. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "And why?" stood on the top of it. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've flock.' Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting 11:15.' statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side him." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned bill, which interests me deeply." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, delirious. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a License. You must require such a user to return or had formerly been in part my own. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug fattened it expressly for you.' Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious discontent upon his features. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might is now desirous of getting those letters back." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all hour?' red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before might have a private word with us. stepfather?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less