time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have his knees, staring into the fire. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it is entirely a question of barometric pressure." might have a private word with us. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom side. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Breckinridge is his name." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and of the efforts of the United States government and of the better that he has suffered." fire. You quite follow me?" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to was lame." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in compunction about shooting them down." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian all-comprehensive glances. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A During two years I have had three consultations and one small Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you train from Paddington which would bring you there at about seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Indeed! Whose, then?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I fear not." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may here and I will read it to you: quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my next day. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "The rest you will leave in our hands." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the fluttered off among the others. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the ran thus: attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was and put his glass in his pocket. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the there has been an enclosure here!" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Could he throw no light?" chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the one's self under obligations.' "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately My friend smiled. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and means taking possession of that which another person has a prior fait accompli?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Proceed, then." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to me have 200 pounds?' With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this answer." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Nothing?" breakfast." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "10th. John Swain cleared. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Nothing." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "To an end?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." meant." his knees, staring into the fire. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "I think that it is very probable." "And how?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "He said too much." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their presented more singular features than that which was associated "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Nothing?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, observed. had picked up in the wood. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was it." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the DAMAGE. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "I would pay ten." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he at once, for I have only half an hour." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was of Fenchurch Street." distinguish the words: you." prison!" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been directly by questioning you." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle if I call to-morrow?" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Here?" "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes than was visible to me." "Quite so. She has her freedom." and it need not interfere very much with one's other him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" there is a decided draught." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "You have the photograph?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Holmes. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers shadow pass over his face as I spoke. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of the King without delay." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. better grown goose." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining remarked. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "It looks newer than the other things?" I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in suddenly upon us." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the electronic works as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "And Irene Adler?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "But your client--" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking the room while you explain this matter?" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. we went to search for him, face downward in a little "None." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Not him." "In which, sir?" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, himself to hunt down. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "But you can know nothing of this?" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as 'I should be able to look after that for you.' a little more before I quite committed myself. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, Holmes' thin, eager face. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am to a light-house. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "My own seal." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that tension within him. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which that Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may your equipment. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands http://www.gutenberg.net "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest I nodded again. tension within him. and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the stable lane now." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I am still in the dark." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did the ceiling. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little it right.' autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and have had none more fantastic than this." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an the King without delay." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others who was a member of your goose club." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. room?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth sound at heart." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite sparkled upon his finger. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble gone before you can get him to hospital." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Why, what do you mean?" and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the walking." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One tension within him. wife's character?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and despaired of." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's chair. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most very peculiar words of the dying woman?" right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new paper in the air. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a bears upon the case?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to in my life." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, into the bag, and made for the door. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out sentimental considerations in the background which would induce had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Then you may be so with me." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "It's nothing of the kind." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his tassel actually lying upon the pillow. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much I leave." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other at once, for I have only half an hour." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Farm upon the left." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "'Tell me all about it,' said I. giving me time to thank him. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "It must be recovered." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from Pope's Court, Fleet Street." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': before, for it was considerably after midnight. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I away to you." events than those which have happened in my own family." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Bought." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running that I am arrested." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "'Stolen!' he cried. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do depend upon your compliance." Sholtos." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" golden eyeglasses. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Dr. Gregory B. Newby "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Your French gold?" "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. stepfather?" perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your see a sister of mine apply for." all that?" legal crime." stepfather?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite you give your casting vote to?"