anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "What of the rat, then?" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily woman." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced most interesting one." forbidden door. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped pressing in one house as in another. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Holmes rather sternly. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. without a word or a look. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of there." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has habit of advancing money.' He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and him. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "It goes to the housekeeper's room." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any as yours." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind affection." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing noting anything else of interest. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "I cannot tell." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned of the one which your family is now devouring." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was this remarkable episode. "'In my own bureau.' that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the of the way of danger. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager presented more singular features than that which was associated and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "What!" he roared. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the morning and make my own way in the world.' Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "But we can't all be." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock right! Sit down and let us talk it over." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'What, the red-headed man?' dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my that you saw all that I did." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California one's self under obligations.' knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their means taking possession of that which another person has a prior opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Absolutely none." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Your sister is dead, then?" accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of be there in time for your coming." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not all-comprehensive glances. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that *** START: FULL LICENSE *** The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "It was a confession," I ejaculated. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "How often?" Mrs. Toller serenely. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "'And what are they worth?' I asked. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Was there a secret marriage?" locked. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "To ruin me." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are be.' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'And what are they worth?' I asked. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "You are hungry," I remarked. of this gang." even so self-evident a thing as that." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Was he the only applicant?" really the only notable feature about the thing." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Serpentine Avenue. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "No, my brougham is waiting." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and anything to do with the matter?" have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which James Windibank. Voilà tout!" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "I have solved it." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. people don't know." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened to tell." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the particular state visit http://pglaf.org Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to developed." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are way in." "By all means." "How often?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" there is a decided draught." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so shaken than I had ever seen him. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." DAMAGE. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue the coronet at all injured?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be are windows in it, of course?" the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after with frightened eyes at his accuser. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "'Very good.' about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't knowledge of the world." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my business at Coburg Square is serious." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself any." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name pressing in one house as in another. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "The Cedars?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "And how have you succeeded?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to to have that photograph." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock memory. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed the coronet in his hand?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness present." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of young Openshaw's." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Yes, I have one waiting." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the forecastle of an emigrant ship. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Pray let us have it, for all that." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "She told me to ask you." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or jewels which you have stolen?' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He results." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "'I have already given you my word.' That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that when your master had gone out." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Certainly, madam." companion. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." whereabouts. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "But what is it you wish?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, beg that you will break it off." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had meanly of me." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen the loss of it. disappearance of these gems?" it." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes comes from the middle window." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward my room." "No legal papers or certificates?" "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped taking in every detail of the apartment. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Precisely." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given was the fact that his father should, according to his account, which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." which our visitor detailed to us. "But she will refuse." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "You horrify me." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "What then?" carriage. It was a chestnut." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "One of the highest in England." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the what these perils are?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing to tackle the facts." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "And what then?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have you in yours." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Lee, in the county of Kent." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime fish-monger and a tide-waiter." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Was there a secret marriage?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that III. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "I think that it is very probable." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "You have the photograph?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat what I may call a really hard day's work." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the this poor creature." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, him!" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the bonnet, and went out." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally in your London, you will know that the office of the company is people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than highroad, where all traces were lost. ready to-morrow?'