"This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered disappearance of these gems?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into Dr. Gregory B. Newby impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "But who is he?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "'Tell me all about it,' said I. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, sooner or later she must fall a victim. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler bird I ate is country bred." character. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "You have a clue?" "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "'There is a drive, then?' analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "But what harm can there be in that?" "A greater distance to travel." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. did not hear it also.' enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Then I do not see the point." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Dirty?" "On Monday." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and companion imperturbably. unkempt, staring out at me. "My photograph." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "What then?" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your bore every mark of being an average commonplace British furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his good for you to do.' whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Then I am your man." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have you found me to-night--and running through the front room she same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Certainly." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal once more for Briony Lodge. for its centre. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but himself to tell his story. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is imbecility!" he cried. the general public were present, then?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "'Is purely nominal.' "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "And I say east," said my patient. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is public press." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Surrey." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Why did you pick him?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black towards the blaze. "I cannot think." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "'No, I know no one in these parts.' some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid see a sister of mine apply for." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Not in the least." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how God! What an exposure! What can I do?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The was a perfect sample of the class. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" and your relations to her." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and handed it to him. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with you give your casting vote to?" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "'I have already given you my word.' carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Quite so. She has her freedom." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep Mary, has deserted me." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "No, my brougham is waiting." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the stones. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the pressing in one house as in another. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is people don't know." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if enough to aid us in our search." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to one of the states of the Union." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." point in the dark hollow of his hand. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little you want, then?' then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried ashen face. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to that there was nothing in it, after all." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two I have it here in my museum." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been of." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their lamp in his hand. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Yes, all." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on matter over." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon in the port of London." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Dr. Gregory B. Newby states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy own family. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang and all of them with the keenest interest. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for tail." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "It's nothing of the kind." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this a little more before I quite committed myself. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William see a sister of mine apply for." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been not as remarkable as your advertisement." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the bed, and you in that chair." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and know what is wrong with it.' tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those and looked back. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely charged with?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "The best possible." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "What of the rat, then?" had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Upon what point?" stalked out of the room. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that waste of energy." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake married her." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are absorbing." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at that I may have something better before very many minutes are of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" hereditary King of Bohemia." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Was the window open?" "Will you bet, then?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other weapon." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed and prosperity to your house. Good-night." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged and I shall be with you presently." coroner's jury." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned me what he had done with the three missing stones. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start little trying to do so much typewriting?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, thirty. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "It looks newer than the other things?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Yes, I have one waiting." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father sufficient punishment." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Dr. Becher's." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last of Mr. Rucastle's." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy green of the new foliage. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she must be when I saw the door open.' It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up again before evening." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very heavily into it. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Very much so." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Precisely." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is newspaper selections." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "I should be immensely obliged to you." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "'Why that?' I asks. too. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "But to whom?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "You have carte blanche." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Certainly." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every carried out of court." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' occupations.' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for to change my dress. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "It is true that I have been generally successful." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is