"I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Serpentine Avenue. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and easy-going way." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how friends, not even his own brother. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "'A dozen yards or so.' in his hands." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their chance." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "You'll never persuade me to believe that." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "And I." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To believe that I should never have any practice at all. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Can I be of assistance?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Which are?" "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting My friend smiled. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Nothing?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "And who is her maid?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as miles off. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices must be when I saw the door open.' as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns disappearance of these gems?" train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of quite distinctive." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the go from here to the Strand." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Seven!" I answered. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "And what then?" when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "I will do it." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin during the last few years, and there are many noble families to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." have had none more fantastic than this." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened your room." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, are windows in it, of course?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "So I have heard." lectures into a series of tales." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Will you bet, then?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." closing the door. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "She will not sell." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I shall be delighted." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "You know me, then?" safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "At what time?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "At the wedding breakfast." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Pray continue your narrative." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'What do you call purely nominal?' of this gang." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "'Yes, it was gone.' however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" crime. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. London for the present?" on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I warn you that they are very incomplete." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and shag which I had seen upon the previous night. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." crackling voice. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." once more for Briony Lodge. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every them present such singular features as the strange train of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting characteristics, but those are the more obvious." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Why did you pick him?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "And why in hopes?" base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the conceal it?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "But how?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Why, what do you mean?" wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after even so self-evident a thing as that." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Here?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was occurred." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Very murderous indeed." "I beg pardon." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I But Holmes shook his head gravely. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "From his hat?" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled papers." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated for the market.' and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Upon what point?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Her father is very rich?" them?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa own family. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was said he. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand chance." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "So I am. Very much so." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "What is it?" "Dirty?" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "I will not look." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His him and tried to hold him back. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in the house with me." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and learned something! Where are the gems?" When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and have established a very serious case against the son of the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have spare." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "How did you deduce the select?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the danger is over." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence important." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so fluttered off among the others. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "In which, sir?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head interest. They are important, you understand, without being rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so one which it was hard to resist. "Yes." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out bedroom door." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect him. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. 11:15.' in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in once more. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the locked. me. is a common subject for conversation. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his unclasping of his long thin hands. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "You are all wrong." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made own family. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "If I can be of use." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' voice. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours returning from some small jollification and was making his way calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "'Never,' said I. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "I say that I have solved it." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "And when will you call?" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Then you may be so with me." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Game for a morning drive?" had picked up in the wood. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and advice." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "And why?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending time." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," said I. room?" maiden herself was most instructive." introspective fashion. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried woman." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' comes from the middle window." Farm upon the left." "I should wish to." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray conceal it?" Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream sneer upon his pale face. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "That is also quite modern," said the lady. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "I have my revolver," said I. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Then the page we have seen--" "Absolutely none." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, kindly on the shoulder. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel fishes. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "And what did you see?" desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I would then never go into court at all." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Absolutely?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how hand, madam?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Not social, then?" feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads country, and eventually married, without anyone having a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. have had none more fantastic than this." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. particular state visit http://pglaf.org Miss Holder?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." peculiar to him. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day."