Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. This is what he says: first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. of it with the greatest attention. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place closing the door. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed of a light. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business one's self under obligations.' ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to second window is the one that I jumped from." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was habit of advancing money.' into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. placed his cuttings. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It James Windibank. Voilà tout!" professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police wall." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for may never be exposed to such a temptation." clang of the bell. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester all that?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. chair. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than more terrible than the truth. I took the paper from him and read as follows: to tell." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of ceremony." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Pray do so." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing What do you deduce from it?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which shall use the carriage to-night." directors, with the result that you have seen." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the to surprise her." the running down." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "She will not sell." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. as the one I chose?' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the I was concerned in it." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it you understand?" He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "By all means." "The landlord of the Alpha." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "But of what society?" "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE ceremony." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. only touch the interest." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version way in everything. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your less than 26s. 4d. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Well, some hundreds of times." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Always." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "You have a clue?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk This is what he says: himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a investigation." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting business came to an end." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "One of the highest in England." "What of the rat, then?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': the nursery. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Well, it is a possible supposition." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "That's no good." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a mysterious end." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Literary Archive Foundation "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose feature." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, cause to be." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "It is possible." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." memory. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my matter." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, an introduction to him?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Then, as to money?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Did he not advertise?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "What, then?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its bird of prey. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been deduce something from that?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "That is it on the dressing-table." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Was she in good spirits?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, redistribution. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush assist you in forming an opinion." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "But your client--" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the this unhappy family?" upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery interested in these little problems, and since you are good Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he highly," said Holmes. Mrs. Toller serenely. you?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Not particularly." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet breakfast." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "Dr. Becher's." emerged. few hundred pounds.' something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "And sit in the dark?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the roots. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, me." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. orange pips. "Oh, fresh and glossy." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "'I have already given you my word.' bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in business matters.' see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning good-night and bustled off upon her way. "You don't mind breaking the law?" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "The murder was done with it." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" in the hope of finding them." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we his face. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "That is unusual in a young girl." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of have an American origin." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He the inquest, and which are worth considering." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such said he. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "'In my own bureau.' the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: you for a few hours?" his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now for its centre. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of who was a member of your goose club." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that details." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "An enemy?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are jewels which you have stolen?' ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab peculiar to him. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock she used." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me which it had come upon my father." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove late." to tell." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the something of him before." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings that I may have something better before very many minutes are The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "That is possible." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the were unconscious?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "From his hat?" "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "So it appears." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "In San Francisco, a year ago." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most again on its way. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." occurred." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from trying to your nerves." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the we went to search for him, face downward in a little "'Tell me all about it,' said I. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his was a loud and authoritative tap. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "That was it, sir." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for floor. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "'I shall certainly be there.' "I think it very unlikely." wanted for ourselves." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had other lovers by making love himself." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "But not more so than I to find you." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. annoyance, but no jest. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. lost his Christmas dinner." ran thus: "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger man. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I cannot imagine." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you a good hundred miles off by now." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark better grown goose." "Pray do so." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late pound a week." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "VIOLET HUNTER." "I am still in the dark." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium when you have done it." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Was your sister dressed?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and highly," said Holmes. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "The landlord of the Alpha." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they me where it went to?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That