"Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes carriage. It was a chestnut." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my daring than any effort of the imagination." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "My own seal." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some knowledge of the world." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "What do you mean?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large possible that we could bring him back to her? charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. are, and they are waiting for us." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "And how in the world did you find them?" chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across kindly on the shoulder. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the coronet in his hands?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Certainly, madam." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the as yours." "I am armed." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come hour?' said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there and all of them with the keenest interest. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "But what harm can there be in that?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. your Highness to the police-station?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "That's no good." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I the south-west, I see." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and mysterious business." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. it." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the little trying to do so much typewriting?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce upon the white wrist. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "'How far from the body?' sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly his forehead." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" once more for Briony Lodge. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to mystery may be cleared along those lines." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Ample." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Henry Baker is a member." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to had picked up in the wood. "I don't believe it." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "You think so, too?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "No bad?" secret." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his that you can jump it.' skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was British peeress.'" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Pray let us have it, for all that." in this way: "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate to-night's adventure." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her were new raised from a basin. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "I promise," said Holmes. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at and capable of preserving a secret.' devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Yes." not fit the lock." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my train.' green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope six. Come in!" "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, villagers almost as much as their master. written, and locked the door of the office after me. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Witness: It was. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of forbidden door. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "It was a confession," I ejaculated. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without obstinate." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in bird I ate is country bred." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "And how did you verify them?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, points in connection with it which never have been, and probably and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It not personally threatened." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Ample." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which writer." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This burst out into a roar of laughter. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the system of imprisonment?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "And your mother is alive?" all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a bachelor.' "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my most interesting one." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the coroner come to?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in matters immensely." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window crackling voice. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have crime. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, good-night and bustled off upon her way. to tell." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." derbies." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be seven miles from Eyford Station.' late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and lamp in his hand. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of already been minutely examined." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such This is what he says: written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. I was concerned in it." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers have not had my rubber." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide awaited us upon the table. handed it to him. fear." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in outbreak?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "In which, sir?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the Red-headed League." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Who was the criminal, then?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young soul! here is her carriage at the door." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Then he might have called to you?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "No?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Yes, I have one waiting." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and DISSOLVED. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several locked. voice. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "But the mystery?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Street. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been triumphant cloud from his cigarette. girl said." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself just ask you whether you had heard it.' Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "What is it?" nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any is entirely a question of barometric pressure." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter bearing upon the case." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "The Coroner: What do you mean? to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet of receipt of the work. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, be sorry for having acted so harshly." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, me." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without vague figure huddled up in the darkness. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Why did you pick him?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted true." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the hand, madam?" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well certainly do as you advise." "The gentleman I describe." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "An enemy?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "But not more so than I to find you." ready to-morrow?' stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a had died away into the silence from which it rose. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in deduce something from that?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you been shamefully used." "What will you do, then?" the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable you came in." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking call for protection in the marriage market, for the present is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "It is no ordinary one." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Entirely." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, are windows in it, of course?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, answer." this unhappy family?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." society." "In what way?" asked Holmes. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Where did he live, then?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector to take care of herself." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" chance." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "'What would be the hours?' I asked. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "'In my own bureau.' my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two both be extremely obliged.' time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried over here." photograph a cabinet?" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade done what I asked you, Jones?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was