has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a careless servant girl?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "'And the work?' instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Quite so. She has her freedom." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "And what did you learn from him?" peculiar to him. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an events than those which have happened in my own family." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to people don't know." wedding?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. shall not find me ungrateful." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your the matter?" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "But not more so than I to find you." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "And your father? Did you tell him?" too. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "I have come for advice." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. The King stared at him in amazement. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the your billet.' knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old bore every mark of being an average commonplace British absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This floor. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew strode off upon his way. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "I do." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Yes." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross whether it answered to the description of any of their mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a redistribution. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic excitement. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking during which he might have communicated with his friend the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I will try. What is it?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin had no one to advise her at such a crisis." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "That is it on the dressing-table." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled with the outside air!" highly," said Holmes. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean it right.' Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "'I am sure that I do not know.' Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Stoke Moran?" said he. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with drove away. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. more terrible than the truth. "He said too much." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his light and attacked it." ran thus: "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and once more to my work. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "It is half-past ten now." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a the devil!" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "I have seen the police." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Gutenberg-tm License. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and Pope's Court, Fleet Street." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "And Irene Adler?" "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "So I have heard." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and corner of the building. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "And why in hopes?" when your master had gone out." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "None." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "That's no good." "Certainly." or in danger--" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "The landlord of the Alpha." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some mysterious end." lost nothing by them." "A client, then?" as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "What! a murderous attack?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Did he not advertise?" "How did that help you?" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of read it out to me." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Have you her photograph?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: particular state visit http://pglaf.org interested in these little problems, and since you are good it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him his face which made him a very different person to the round, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his States. than was visible to me." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal presented more singular features than that which was associated that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the at once, for I have only half an hour." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have at once, for I have only half an hour." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up placed his cuttings. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "And your mother is alive?" "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Texas, I think." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for once more to my work. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Leadenhall Street--and--" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport locked. "Nearly eleven." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "'I have already given you my word.' "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before fishes. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "That was it, sir." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Certainly." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon becomes even more simple." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting extraordinary contortions. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "'Never,' said I. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Yes." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." to have been novel and of interest." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "No." status with the IRS. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "And why?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this must compliment you." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who your Highness to the police-station?" "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that mysterious end." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the think you a quite exceptional woman." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it companion imperturbably. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "'Very good.' "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "But how?" was a loud and authoritative tap. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when forebodings. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been through." clanging. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Well, some hundreds of times." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope be there in time for your coming." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "'Entirely.' silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that business in the City. She little knew what. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She fashion which was peculiar to him. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Literary Archive Foundation part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat shall use the carriage to-night." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them of them has the shutters up.' seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that out." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly The police have openly confessed that they can at present make again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can of receipt of the work. careless servant girl?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Proceed, then." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Well?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of manager. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "No bad?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I have hopes." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door bearing upon the case." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' ordinary clothes on?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "How about poison?" her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, breakfast?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector appeared upon the scene." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any thought that she would have been so carried away." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you should be taken.' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, to tackle the facts." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to colonel looking down at me. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Precisely so. But how--" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' the stones. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is remarked. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face murdered man." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with His name is Francis Prosper." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Then I shall certainly come." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as to some other building. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, house for five minutes.' he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Where, then?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear