consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the have been better. It is all right." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his a monotonous occupation." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing overpowering excitement and concern. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in shag which I had seen upon the previous night. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a standing smiling on the door-step. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Only as much as we can deduce." purpose equally well?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I came to find a friend." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow shag which I had seen upon the previous night. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not eat it." eavesdroppers?' "Was the window open?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net emerged. you." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not disappearance of these gems?" "Then I am your man." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "I don't believe it." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a bare slabs of marble. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. and no precautions can guard against." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, third from London." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle nights." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. there is a decided draught." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "You horrify me!" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without the Red-headed League." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very over here." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, power." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so again before evening." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good outside. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Then he might have called to you?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Street. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Awake, Watson?" he asked. him and tried to hold him back. long narrative. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the and glanced through. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "You have but to name it." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, the ceiling. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one time." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me death." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had not personally threatened." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of several quiet little villages up there." my special province." closely." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are persecution?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Well, but China?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that John Swain, of St. Augustine. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At drove away. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter nothing of it?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual said I. "But how?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "'What, the red-headed man?' has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of returning from some small jollification and was making his way sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with was a lad." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less tell me that you intended to go into harness." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord upon the sideboard." do.' train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief shaken than I had ever seen him. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right I shall continue with my miserable story. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of asked. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "I don't believe it." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction of fine shops and stately business premises that they really all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "And I say east," said my patient. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to skylight. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their the loss of it. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." not within a twentieth part of the market price." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social that he has suffered." "What do you mean?" photograph?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather Young McCarthy must be got off, however." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." the window, rose as we entered. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "'You doubt its value?' he asked. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the matter." to have that photograph." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "I cannot think." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own undoubtedly my uncle's." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Has he come with you to-night?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue shoulder. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. distinguish the words: fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was should be taken.' drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set him, that man would not have given me such complete information whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Yes." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I cause to be." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises it right.' "But your client--" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside and the colonel ushered me in. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "And your mother is alive?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he back to my heart. "Then I am your man." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, affair. "My private note-paper." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her feature." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over back alive. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Her father is very rich?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the have established a very serious case against the son of the "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable have accepted such a situation. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried and all of them with the keenest interest. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Serpentine Avenue. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both cost them two and thirty pounds." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Look there!" said he. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "I will not look." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington begun to whiten, even as mine has." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Frequently." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing and laid it on the table. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small in. "But she could not love him." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading bare slabs of marble. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally him. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, rat could hardly pass through." me what he had done with the three missing stones. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: if she died from some sudden fright." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It desk. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my straightened it out again. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor said he. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with best detective that ever lived. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a out of this horrible affair." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "You'll never persuade me to believe that." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Of what?" is so. I know all about McCarthy." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Quite so." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me strength in the others." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the read over the extraordinary announcement. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, excitement. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we outbreak?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up to his chemical studies. bonnet, and went out." a room. straighten it?" get her out of the way." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "What then?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of for and were ordered to this address. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out me. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes not fit the lock." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "What is it?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and may have an influence upon European history." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no within hail.' "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you