It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "No." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, colour had been driven from his face. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "How on earth--" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps is so. I know all about McCarthy." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the beyond words. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common had picked up in the wood. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." and all of them with the keenest interest. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss companion. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Edgeware Road. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons over with notes and figures. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Look there!" said he. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, hand, madam?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still miles off. "Texas, I think." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "And Irene Adler?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Pray do so." people don't know." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "It surprised me." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps conceal it?" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "And how did he make his money?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the your troubles." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "What do you mean?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I see many objections to any such theory." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an himself. to have that photograph." 'please.'" "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "'Certainly not. But why?' We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Where, then, is my wife?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Yes." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Your sister is dead, then?" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for seven miles from Eyford Station.' Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said have established a very serious case against the son of the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether tassel actually lying upon the pillow. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind garden below. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "Can I be of assistance?" what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, did not hear it also.' Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Yes, from Horsham." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in useful material for showing traces. The double line a little prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, carriage. It was a chestnut." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to spark where all is dark to me." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "'A dozen yards or so.' Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any you." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" least a most suspicious remark." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a I am not easy in my mind about them." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "It certainly sounds feasible." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "And how did you find out?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Bought." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the started for the Temple to see my husband. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "At what time?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your Holmes. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid of Mr. Rucastle's." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "That is possible." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's corner of the building. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence been with you?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Munro.' "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "It is his hat." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "That is easily got." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built have not had my rubber." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether matter." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham geese which you supplied to the Alpha." eat it." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Farm upon the left." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "So I have heard." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Absolutely none." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." his wife has ceased to love him." just ask you whether you had heard it.' has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the unclasping of his long thin hands. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an you, my dear young lady?' huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "An enemy?" hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." to tell." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "But she could not love him." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." have I gained?" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on union?" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted recall any case within my experience which looked at the first to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "I saw her in conversation with her maid." obstinate." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the of." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has closely." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." fait accompli?" may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further affection." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any are windows in it, of course?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the been able to understand it, in a very few words. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "How did that help you?" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned signal between you and your father? "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. during which he might have communicated with his friend the "But I have heard all that you have heard." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me awaited us upon the table. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my certainly do as you advise." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, said he. a very grave face. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying case before our client came into the room." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "I will try. What is it?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and case before our client came into the room." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old have had none more fantastic than this." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "None." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your what these perils are?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the a room. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." lumber-room." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between leaning back in his chair. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet cigar and let me expound." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous outsides of the windows. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the and glanced through. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his bled considerably." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Of what?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the fled together." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid man. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "'Very good.' old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "I am all attention, madam." "Yes, sir." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'Is 4 pounds a week.' that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The you in yours." weary and pale-looking. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. front of me. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the asked with his eyes open. "'Very good.' course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist shadow pass over his face as I spoke. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry it. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco know what is wrong with it.' situation." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the