"I came to find a friend." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "It missed him, then?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." situation." "It is possible." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Yes." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," read it out to me." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "How do you know, then?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which that I may have something better before very many minutes are burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, remarked. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Henry Baker is a member." fluttered off among the others. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Holmes." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. in him." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your she to prove their authenticity?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes vault. and glanced through. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "How did that help you?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, best detective that ever lived. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other that you saw all that I did." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have direction." was shining brightly. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing writing, and yet I know it well." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it man. I know him from the photograph." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a there is a decided draught." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, that you wished to speak to me?' investigation." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "And how?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as jewels which you have stolen?' felt the room to be a little close.' unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "I will get her to show me." interested in these little problems, and since you are good fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "'Quite sure, dad.' thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I goes." me." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had certainly do as you advise." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the inner apartment." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Yes, it would be as well." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are or other trace. But how on earth--" during which he might have communicated with his friend the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "I answered that I had not. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "She walked into the breakfast-room." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." a good hundred miles off by now." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. I nodded to show that I had heard. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from must be when I saw the door open.' lids now and glanced across at his visitor. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he copied or distributed: be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position his wife has ceased to love him." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the over with notes and figures. even of instruction." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Then, how do you know?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, peculiar to him. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen sneer upon his pale face. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. fasten all the windows?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, was keenly on my guard against him. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I would pay ten." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." there was no need for father to know." visitors." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly and a shock of very red hair. Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was absorbing." "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "'What are you doing there?' he asked. a suggestive one." fire. You quite follow me?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a from the brougham. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest to a light-house. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then comes from the middle window." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out affair. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other least a most suspicious remark." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Yes." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was have established a very serious case against the son of the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his writing, and yet I know it well." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not could not account in any way for the presence of the missing and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from McCarthy." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it has little to do with my story." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last bedroom door." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our and wait." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, second window is the one that I jumped from." there in twenty minutes." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against in a friendly supper." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project such attractions and accomplishments?' "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a where she found matters as described by the last witness. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush have had none more fantastic than this." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears your sleep?' "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The are windows in it, of course?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "No." call you and give you the chance." get her out of the way." lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for outside." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As night.' said he. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at place of silver." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Leadenhall Street--and--" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "No?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which simple cases which are so extremely difficult." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "It is a murder, then?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar all-comprehensive glances. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." open." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some outside." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I presume?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; himself. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "What can you not understand?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Mrs. Toller serenely. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "My dear Holmes!" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help laugh and put his lips to my ear. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power clang of the bell. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be business at Coburg Square is serious." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. letters?" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid may have an influence upon European history." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, 1.E.9. purpose of examination. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was used to be." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "We must sit without light. He would see it through the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then good-night and bustled off upon her way. developed." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' everything which you would wish to know." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "None." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood without a word or a look. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "And is that all?" located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from own family. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "He slept on the premises." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." figure." you in yours." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly row." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught invisible to me," I remarked. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a but preventing her from injuring another. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "There is the writing." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "At the wedding breakfast." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who of your young ladies.' the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "A confidential servant?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any noise which awoke you from your sleep?" going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "I am to be neutral?" have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the do." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Not yet." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, indeed happy." child?' should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "But she could not love him." "Precisely so. But how--" I took the paper from him and read as follows: call the police, let the police find what they can.' "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Yes." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made the child." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. the running down." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "And that is--" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well