so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his weary and pale-looking. round with crates and massive boxes. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But happened." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "I will try. What is it?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy fashion which was peculiar to him. results." "No, I am descending." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might least a most suspicious remark." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box name is different." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before certainly do as you advise." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a despaired of." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "And why in hopes?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out likely to be some crony of the landlady's." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all it were putty." laugh and put his lips to my ear. friends, not even his own brother. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is fear." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, was a loud and authoritative tap. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling said he. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "'About the same.' ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "And on what day did he meet his death?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not to you." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, outbreak?" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "I see many objections to any such theory." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense you?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "My dear Holmes!" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She in my life." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I have a cab outside." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly know that the truth is known." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and out." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both galvanised. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Which surely he restored to their owner?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind interests were the same as his." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, ran thus: it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Sutherland. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he upon a handsome competence. "'Which dealer's?' time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left wedding?" who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the indiscretion." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was so far?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies front of me. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round that, and I came down." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "So I am. Very much so." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the station." room. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "No, finished." gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were indeed happy." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It following enigmatical notices: scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "No." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Of what day?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My will he say when he returns?" heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "And help." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" means taking possession of that which another person has a prior fear." before, for it was considerably after midnight. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "A call for help, you thought?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Never to return." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. what I may call a really hard day's work." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the nonsense.' "Then how many are there?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations God! What an exposure! What can I do?" thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were I leave." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my DISSOLVED. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "I say that I have solved it." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Get out!" said he. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door never to learn it at all." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was his wife has ceased to love him." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "He said that you could solve anything." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all in his hands." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to perplexity from it to my illustrious client. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "And what then?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I for and were ordered to this address. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back words came to my lips. best detective that ever lived. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the this poor creature." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Certainly, madam." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "I cannot say that I have." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Holmes' thin, eager face. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin used to be." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take in a friendly supper." such person." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "You are hungry," I remarked. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Seven!" I answered. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. situation." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." late." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She dear old homesteads?" "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Imitated." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. pictures, libraries, or plate. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. retorted upon me, and I on you." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, awkward doing business with an alias." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and a suggestive one." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he later, upon the night of May 2nd." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "None." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Was the window open?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "And the cigar-holder?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my father's young wife. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that I held the little printed slip to the light. closing the door. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a The summons was a brief and urgent one. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a him nearly every evening." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "It was an hour's good drive." of a light. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend to surprise her." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Tired-looking or fresh?" of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." your room." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "It is very kind of you." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came had a long day." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that your co-operation." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may and glanced through. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Yes, all." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I assure you that I am in your hands." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the gbnewby@pglaf.org "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Yes, but only for you and me." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would photograph?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "'And what are they worth?' I asked. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My been able to understand it, in a very few words. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. unprofitable." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "How often?" we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Clair, of Lee." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean copied or distributed: besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and and your relations to her." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears be sorry for having acted so harshly." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in meant." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "You were travelling in the States?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his sooner or later she must fall a victim. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb o'clock is it?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of enter Dr. Roylott's room." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "What is it, then--a fire?" profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" leave you to your papers for a little." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this strength in the others." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Nothing?" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his