"Certainly." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for whatever might befall. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its Pool. business." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would so far?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" said I. "Pray do so." very morning of my second wedding." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any envelope. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down generous with you in money matters.' experiences." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over ran thus: if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to there was no need for father to know." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case to-night." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing shag which I had seen upon the previous night. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of sparkled upon his finger. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the quickly through a disagreeable task. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "'How far from the body?' attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down in one or two places in England?' for its centre. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." come either from the window or the door. My attention was legal crime." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out prove to be little relation between the different incidents of name is different." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "I cannot imagine." me." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Yes, only one." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do empty. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming in my life." crime." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, never came back." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "I should be immensely obliged to you." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our present." undoubtedly my uncle's." such attractions and accomplishments?' to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered train.' yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible some terrible trap for her." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of made his money." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "No. What a strange idea!" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For it were putty." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "'Very good.' hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "You have carte blanche." "Entirely." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and bird of prey. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such chill to my heart. yourselves in at night?" Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be train from Paddington which would bring you there at about helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this investigation." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "One?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "He slept on the premises." "The knees of his trousers." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him." "But his left-handedness." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "'Why that?' I asks. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, certainly do as you advise." pictures, libraries, or plate. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "And what then?" its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect good for you to do.' II. and put his glass in his pocket. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock little trying to do so much typewriting?" "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as hour?' whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "No." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is interest. They are important, you understand, without being tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "What steps will you take?" I asked. "'Ten to two.' five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "By no means." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Yes." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain to-night?" I asked. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "You will not go there first?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Yes, sir." all?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a gentleman's clothes. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid trying to your nerves." maiden herself was most instructive." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind believe that I should never have any practice at all. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst man. I know him from the photograph." himself in a perplexing position. disturbance in my wife." retorted upon me, and I on you." the loss of it. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you means taking possession of that which another person has a prior But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, few hundred pounds.' rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the chambers. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "But I am all in the dark." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to this Miss Turner." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "But how could you guess what the motive was?" reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "But his left-handedness." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London cause to be." it means?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those made his money." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you placed his cuttings. "Frequently." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly hard-headed British jury." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained sentimental considerations in the background which would induce first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. of this gang." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "And why?" death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "What is it?" The King stared at him in amazement. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." the so-precious time, but come!' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you about here speaks of his kindness to him." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and not use it unless it is absolutely needed." in his hands." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She dramatic, in fact." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "'Never.' and wait." showing my impatience. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into narrative." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," of the way of danger. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I answered that I had not. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, you give your casting vote to?" plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "The King of Scandinavia." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of your most interesting statement." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I there in twenty minutes." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." writers could invent nothing more crude." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "And Irene Adler?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are himself. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He vague figure huddled up in the darkness. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." your only hope of safety." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I I took the paper from him and read as follows: with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a the dangers which encompass me." derbies." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not keep the flames under. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, gentleman's clothes. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few mysterious end." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was went to the Alpha were town bred." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated point our research must commence, and we will begin it by severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have shall not find me ungrateful." "No, finished." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional results." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning