"'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his observed. side. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." upon the shelf for the interim." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you to affect your life." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their stalked out of the room. "Pray continue your narrative." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird chance." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there the morning and make my own way in the world.' fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "No?" London for the present?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any awkward doing business with an alias." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning come either from the window or the door. My attention was effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "To ruin me." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "But how?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. cup of tea. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Yes, there are nearly always some there." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "'Certainly,' I answered. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "That is it on the dressing-table." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Heh?' society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the devil!" that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "The landlord of the Alpha." depend upon your compliance." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which breakfast." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other outside." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the the room while you explain this matter?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "You think that he is dead?" "What have you to say now?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and beg that you will break it off." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to my secret was safe in his possession. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "I see many objections to any such theory." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. 11:15.' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Then the page we have seen--" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate she might be summoned. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Very murderous indeed." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be hard-headed British jury." was shining brightly. annoyance, but no jest. forebodings. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose coat-tails." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "You will not go there first?" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Holmes. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves more terrible than the truth. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. which we had just quitted. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right me. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with and no precautions can guard against." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the unprecedented a position." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. there is a decided draught." shoulder; "he's all right." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Her father is very rich?" glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the made him keep the appointment." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it any more." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. stalked out of the room. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to London for the present?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of papers diligently of late, have you not?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or were wasted." hands. "Why? What do you mean?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "It missed him, then?" combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came light and attacked it." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Could he throw no light?" said I. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told arrested. You then--" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "No legal papers or certificates?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting closing the door. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would hand, madam?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" skylight. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it a room. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until morning." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, of receipt of the work. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it it means?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "ARAT," I read. "Where did he live, then?" "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself foot. Foundation 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and letters?" the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "But how?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came salesman. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended passage and a tap at the door. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Yesterday." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You already been minutely examined." "And what did you see?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main charge against him will break down." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock will he say when he returns?" think that he is innocent?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment go from here to the Strand." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had had this final quarrel? night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss from the brougham. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had cup of tea. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was suspect him." "Your French gold?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for whereabouts. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk nonsense.' shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "And your mother is alive?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope purpose of examination. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" him." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to disturbance in my wife." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded of the way of danger. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "'Oh, no.' cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. national property. I was determined that the law should have its was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think the nursery. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "'What then?' I asked. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "You are all wrong." copied or distributed: Foundation for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all was feeling which was the fattest.' understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some your co-operation." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event them, and came down just as you departed. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting situation." taking in every detail of the apartment. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way his grey eyes. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "'Oh, no.' "A thing like a cleaver," said he. you." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should other lovers by making love himself." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the answer." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the night.' "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Certainly." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged in him." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. handed it to him. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Very much so." one of them." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "And how did you verify them?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Holmes, the busybody!" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are and the whole place is in a blaze." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one tied." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "I am about to be married." "But your client--" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay have established a very serious case against the son of the to Leatherhead. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would down in his armchair and closing his eyes. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." certainly not very gracious." about here speaks of his kindness to him." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any said I. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of laugh and put his lips to my ear. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel there when the Rucastles went away." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that awkward doing business with an alias." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. the warnings." shall not find me ungrateful." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an used to be." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would crime. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just interests were the same as his." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "No, I think that I'll take it." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the Assizes." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. to have been novel and of interest." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from one or two very singular points about this room. For example, makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." foresight and the moral retrogression?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted more terrible than the truth. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend be best to do. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an past. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should