any more." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian own family. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend with some details as to your case." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK drawing your inferences." himself to tell his story. purpose equally well?" doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I nothing with him." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Then you may entirely rely on me." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and been lifted and conveyed somewhere." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them crime. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. down. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis is," said he presently: grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the call it cruel." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. begun to whiten, even as mine has." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his there were one or two details which were new to me. But the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to business?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to one else, I think." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far But Holmes shook his head gravely. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes tension within him. row." six. Come in!" observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do awaited us upon the table. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her room had already been engaged for us. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their singular points about the case. What did the police think of the gone. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "How often?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "I beg pardon." the loss of it. to take care of herself." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. enter into my head. with her." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "One of his hands." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "My private note-paper." Clair, of Lee." have got?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide thin, with a long, sharp nose?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind had this final quarrel? "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "So I heard. You have him here?" summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Precisely." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Where, then?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "I am still in the dark." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah go back?" what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'Never.' The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "It surprised me." "'Never.' "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "The King of Scandinavia." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, this as likely?" along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." this remarkable episode. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without I held the little printed slip to the light. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': better grown goose." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may better grown goose." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. stammered. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a imbecility!" he cried. carpenter." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "But he might be a bachelor." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Mary, has deserted me." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, Does that suggest anything?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we interests were the same as his." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "'It is locked up,' I answered. father's young wife. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong place no limit on the sum I may draw." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the little opening for the ventilator is." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be it? Did I buy the geese off you?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "No more words. Get out!" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Dr. Becher's." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was money should be paid at once.' "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Not in a good cause." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Yes, I have one waiting." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Yes." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the salesman. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to are windows in it, of course?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady indeed which he could not unravel. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was been with you?" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the running down." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "How are you getting on?" "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "You think that he is dead?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Was your sister dressed?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "You think that he is dead?" black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of his face. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." new acquaintance to Baker Street. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "That is easily got." is worth.' now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's you want, then?' "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from not fit the lock." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, already been minutely examined." had died away into the silence from which it rose. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation some water from a caraffe. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. obstinate." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE meant." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were unclasping of his long thin hands. guilty one." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the public press." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of strength of mind to control. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, fuss that is made over them." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, salesman. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he in the dead of the night?' but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "None." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have jewels which you have stolen?' shall use the carriage to-night." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the south-west, I see." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out in the dead of the night?' is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was she has been waylaid. There has been no result." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the house with me." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Precisely." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country gone before you can get him to hospital." yet." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare highroad, where all traces were lost. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul to take care of herself." "Who by?" the little opening for the ventilator is." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part go from here to the Strand." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way charged with?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Ah!" families. Now for the facts. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Yes." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as hurried by. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Countess of Morcar's?" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "What!" he roared. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." 11:15.' have been better. It is all right." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return them present such singular features as the strange train of room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" our word." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend just called myself is not exactly my own." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "So I heard. You have him here?" "'Then let me do so?' crime. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing directly by questioning you." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said lost nothing by them." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, go--none." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such should be so warm over such a trifle." business came to an end." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up such attractions and accomplishments?' cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a developed." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, the roots. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" some terrible trap for her." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "And Miss Sutherland?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual is a common subject for conversation. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple papers diligently of late, have you not?" detained." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "But you were on a friendly footing?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Stolen." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Dark enough and sinister enough." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business