becomes even more simple." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Did he not advertise?" "Then, as to money?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with London for the present?" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "VIOLET HUNTER." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "It is possible." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Then, how do you know?" grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked him!" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want breakfast and whispered something to her husband. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' been shamefully used." Count Von Kramm." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "And on what day did he meet his death?" breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had writing, and yet I know it well." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and locked." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a man. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'Entirely.' "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Pray do so." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but just called myself is not exactly my own." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not is worth.' gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." in my life." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which there." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Sutherland. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To this man was intellectual?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so murdered man." nonsense.' observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Street. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Your presence might be invaluable." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he and glanced through. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "But to whom?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! to-morrow." photograph a cabinet?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "BALLARAT." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "The best possible." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to shall use the carriage to-night." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "'Where could I find him?' "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I promise," said Holmes. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, bled considerably." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps charge against him will break down." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms tapping his fingers upon the table. so far?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Clair, of Lee." very old mansion. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "'Which dealer's?' reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "It's nothing of the kind." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, companion quietly. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "I am all attention, madam." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they You want to know what became of those geese?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to once more on the important position which you have been fortunate fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man not personally threatened." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "He is dead," cried several voices. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she chill to my heart. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. kind enough to tell me what I should do." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "And how in the world did you find them?" fat-encircled eyes. to take care of herself." "How did you deduce the select?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "'Yes, I promise.' who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass conduct the inquiry." My friend smiled. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "My dear Holmes!" business." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "I cannot imagine." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Perhaps I have." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House writing, and yet I know it well." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "'Quite sure, dad.' the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." fear." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more you." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over tension within him. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Well?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining envelope. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "She told me to ask you." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "My private note-paper." "'Most admirably.' would then never go into court at all." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were occupations.' "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "I don't say that. Perhaps." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "You have compromised yourself seriously." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "And how did you verify them?" that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. that flock.' returning from some small jollification and was making his way "When did it break out?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "How can you tell that?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose You want to know what became of those geese?" "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "But the mystery?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" emerged. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what enough to aid us in our search." "It is very clear." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of use an arc-and-compass breastpin." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Very truly yours, police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "'I am sure that I do not know.' several quiet little villages up there." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Where, then?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I say it is." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he His smile broadened. I have it here in my museum." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for there." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Stolen." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. upon a handsome competence. father's young wife. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Her father is very rich?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his means taking possession of that which another person has a prior cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the devil!" body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "That was it, sir." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which distinguish the words: hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "I have a cab outside." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that galvanised. the child." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, deduce something from that?" said Mr. Holder. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "And leave your case unfinished?" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the quickly through a disagreeable task. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the morning and make my own way in the world.' remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with bare slabs of marble. "And you can do nothing until then?" "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were You want to know what became of those geese?" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of narrative." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap conversation I have gathered that they have been married about step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. question," said Holmes, smiling. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's said he at last. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business families. Now for the facts. orange pips. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I roused himself from his reverie. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "We have tried and failed." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you crowd. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back money should be paid at once.' room had already been engaged for us. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "How on earth--" which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a already been minutely examined." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "My photograph." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see throat." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Yes. He waved his hands." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "To the police?" "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my occupations.' the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little of it with the greatest attention. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "'Tell me all about it,' said I. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen character. locked. "Absolutely none." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very back to my heart. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp habit of advancing money.' certainly do as you advise." "From his hat?" but preventing her from injuring another. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his