inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as not fit the lock." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were purpose of examination. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door third from London." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, about. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but me where it went to?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to time." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly forbidden door. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Yes." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had already been minutely examined." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man bird of prey. place of silver." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and emerged. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "And I to find an enemy." suspect him." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'Never,' said I. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "If so, much may have happened between." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "'Where to?' I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; which are rolled in Rotterdam." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Yes." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the trifles." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him a suggestive one." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted touch that coronet?' is so. I know all about McCarthy." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "By no means." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There from the brougham. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door what I may call a really hard day's work." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from then?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out my secret was safe in his possession. "So I heard. You have him here?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook footfalls from the street. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not followed. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two until night should bring an explanation. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real paper in the air. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Holmes rather sternly. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "But you can know nothing of this?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "She will not sell." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" dates and names. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," photograph?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his must compliment you." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he man. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when fattened it expressly for you.' believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to respectable self." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. green of the new foliage. row." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "We must sit without light. He would see it through the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! upon the sideboard." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "On Monday." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" carriage. It was a chestnut." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It again." "Pray do so." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." the devil!" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I am following you closely," I answered. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Perhaps I have." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "That you are never beaten." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "It is no ordinary one." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if you." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "And is that all?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An records." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is triumphant cloud from his cigarette. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "No, but the enclosure is." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and hand, madam?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." once more. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal country, and eventually married, without anyone having a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it ways of our fellow-men." populous neighbourhood." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." said I. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I cannot tell." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "I cannot imagine." during which he might have communicated with his friend the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Was he the only applicant?" read it out to me." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Will you bet, then?" eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some matter over." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "What have you to say now?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained long narrative. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is lids now and glanced across at his visitor. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." one's self under obligations.' everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical respectable self." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "What do you make of that, Watson?" several quiet little villages up there." crowd. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on outside. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the danger is over." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem neither fascinating nor artistic." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "How long did she speak to this Alice?" and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "You have a clue?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, over here." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Is he quiet?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "And you can do nothing until then?" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Two days later this same performance was gone through under matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you jewels which you have stolen?' man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the matter." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "I promise," said Holmes. your equipment. family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' his huge brown hands. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "A client, then?" "I am to be neutral?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated you, my dear young lady?' we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, at my remark. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen seen the man in the road." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old views." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front in my life." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "And why in hopes?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in tear off another piece?' "Not particularly." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Ten will be early enough." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" me have 200 pounds?' lost his Christmas dinner." highly," said Holmes. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is the general public were present, then?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked the nursery. up this clue while it is still hot." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "No." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email head. So long, then!" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which it? Did I buy the geese off you?" and laid it on the table. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Oh, yes, easily." was keenly on my guard against him. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my said Mr. Holder. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me could not have written that. It is the German who is so which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Then the page we have seen--" "But how?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his intrusion of other matters." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "You horrify me." promised to bring home. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely shoulder. prepare for the new role I have to play." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one criminal. We have already had experience of such." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, quick march!" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that gbnewby@pglaf.org recover the gem." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my there!' violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "At the wedding breakfast." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always ventilator." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were will find little credit to be gained out of this case." from the brougham. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. as he folded up the epistle. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very certainly not very gracious." Edgeware Road. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding keep the flames under. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt you, my dear young lady?' if she died from some sudden fright." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be highroad, where all traces were lost. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Quite so." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, that threaten you." "Where did he live, then?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I always that they were such commands as a lady might with himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn me upon any point which I do not make clear." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "And why?" "'I shall certainly be there.' clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "Pray do so." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide to take care of herself." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her Munro.' stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "I was sure that I might rely on you." think that any burglar could have done. "I beg pardon." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close