a little more before I quite committed myself. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you name is different." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Nothing?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" during that time.' I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Were they all fastened this morning?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Absolutely none." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, him!" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "I cannot think." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned the running down." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in threw himself down with his face to the pillow. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on window when the police appeared." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "And I." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "The King of Scandinavia." I shall continue with my miserable story. been with you?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at guilty one." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. bearing upon the case." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, pound a week." "At half-wages, in fact." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan the window, rose as we entered. "May I see it?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and learned something! Where are the gems?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "But the mystery?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "I should like to see him very much." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I speckled band?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and congenial hunt. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers the stones. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "But I have heard all that you have heard." "But how did you gain them?" "Not in a good cause." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he your billet.' occupations.' charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at points to suicide?" At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for companion. to that open window." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce companion. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." his face. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that in my life." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much new acquaintance to Baker Street. "What is it, then--a fire?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible at my own good fortune. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong became a certainty. have been better. It is all right." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some depend upon my doing so.' for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "9th. McCauley cleared. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you of Mr. Rucastle's." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "A thing like a cleaver," said he. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "On your arm?" those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "No legal papers or certificates?" went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned depend upon my doing so.' "'How far from the body?' "It is a murder, then?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, done what I asked you, Jones?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen galvanised. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small long narrative. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Thank you. And your address?" four million human beings all jostling each other within the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Project Gutenberg-tm works. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the copied or distributed: we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for get her out of the way." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and colour had been driven from his face. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Perhaps I have." "You will not go there first?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his shall use the carriage to-night." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at I think that I could be of assistance to you." miles off. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something of Mr. Rucastle's." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his during which he might have communicated with his friend the whereabouts. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I Cross for the Continent." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my in my life." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "No." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you chill to my heart. exactly what you advise." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Lestrade of Scotland Yard." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "But who is he?" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who shadow pass over his face as I spoke. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than me where it went to?" delighted to hear it," he said. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you was a perfect sample of the class. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "What are they?" yet." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a his grey eyes. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' o'clock is it?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I will do it." "No." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was disappearance of these gems?" sooner or later she must fall a victim. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Yes, all." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some you." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me persecution?" I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, enter Dr. Roylott's room." tapping his fingers upon the table. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. said he. the salesman. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his whereabouts. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Again Holmes raved in the air. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "The landlord of the Alpha." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in address. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, ago." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "If I can be of use." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed signal between you and your father? but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "I say it is." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof passage and a tap at the door. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. or other trace. But how on earth--" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same triumphant cloud from his cigarette. breakfast." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "No bad?" "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." John Swain, of St. Augustine. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a way: "An enemy?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal behind me. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were remarked. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "On Monday." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. hair?' about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that writing, and yet I know it well." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "My photograph." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily them present such singular features as the strange train of simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of his huge brown hands. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty see a sister of mine apply for." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Imitated." within hail.' best detective that ever lived. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by shall not find me ungrateful." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Watson," he said cordially. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" side. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a miles off. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "It certainly sounds feasible." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, village inn over there?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a golden eyeglasses. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon instituted." he died? unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, dead, shall be safe with us." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely fasten all the windows?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking arms and began to sob in a high treble key. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "And who is her maid?" noble correspondent could be. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big them, and came down just as you departed. families. Now for the facts. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Yes, that is the Crown." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have shall use the carriage to-night." keep the flames under. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I been with you?" preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "This photograph!" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly.