"It came here." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." fashion which was peculiar to him. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands have an American origin." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This the stones. "I shall be delighted." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "What can you not understand?" massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Thank you. Pray proceed." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over your room." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, copied or distributed: say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "What have you done?" asked Holmes. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "'What do you call purely nominal?' and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the felt the room to be a little close.' seen the man in the road." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a these bleak autumnal evenings." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "That is unusual in a young girl." "Certainly." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any hereditary King of Bohemia." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the not within a twentieth part of the market price." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I would pay ten." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the undoubtedly my uncle's." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Was the window open?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's in one or two places in England?' all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight himself to hunt down. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his hereditary King of Bohemia." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "You think that he is dead?" "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "But you can know nothing of this?" action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the indeed which he could not unravel. written, and locked the door of the office after me. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous key turn in the lock." "Can I be of assistance?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he present strange and interesting features that it is no easy work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Will you go?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly the night.' "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "VIOLET HUNTER." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such interested in these little problems, and since you are good cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' past. "What do you mean?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "So I heard. You have him here?" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine not within a twentieth part of the market price." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Stolen." and that he would see to anything that turned up. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, me. You must get home instantly and act." "Then he might have called to you?" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in Surrey." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would he died? just called myself is not exactly my own." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "He is still with you, I presume?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE It may be so in this case, also." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider in this way: ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice morning." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." and effective." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so invisible to me," I remarked. to surprise her." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless in his hands." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into in him." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "This concluded the examination of the witness." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked His smile broadened. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I clanging. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far individual and becomes the badge of a society." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people the coronet at all injured?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship get the tickets." "Of what day?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you again before evening." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, the inner apartment." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always careless servant girl?" respectable self." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless like gravel from a pit.' up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" his fortune, and I went back to pa. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was words came to my lips. there!' trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I likely to be some crony of the landlady's." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and the warnings." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "It is half-past ten now." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "'And the work?' with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said been with you?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no his knees, staring into the fire. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a companion quietly. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is danger is over." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Her father is very rich?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Thank you. And your address?" "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Then I am your man." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. figure." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are I held the little printed slip to the light. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "But I have heard all that you have heard." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the gone. the side-table." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and girl said." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." that he has suffered." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Literary Archive Foundation He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "'Certainly,' I answered. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Yes." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Perhaps we may make them less so." again on its way. dear old homesteads?" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "There is the writing." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son hands. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you quite distinctive." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "I was certainly surprised to find you there." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to sufficient punishment." to-night?' though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "You heard nothing yourself last night?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "By no means." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not six. Come in!" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is and no precautions can guard against." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and to Leatherhead. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. awkward doing business with an alias." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and is acting for the best. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. careless servant girl?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your handed it to him. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. bears upon the case?" once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which considering the formidable letters which were received by himself one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give be best to do. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "To ruin me." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "I cannot tell." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." amused." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "But it has twice been burgled." was used.' could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me not within a twentieth part of the market price." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "No." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." my little problems." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "It is possible." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the McCarthy." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "I cannot imagine." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already new acquaintance to Baker Street. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Very much so." criminal. We have already had experience of such." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, congenial hunt. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it information in his hands the value of which he did not himself the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "That is not always so easy." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he him to be an active member of the medical profession." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. whatever might befall. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the