"I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his house for five minutes.' see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "My Mary? Impossible!" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon one which it was hard to resist. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." trifles." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," dead, shall be safe with us." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Here?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that several quiet little villages up there." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he that you wished to speak to me?' His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "It is true that I have been generally successful." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking ceremony." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my there is a decided draught." the salesman. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," which our visitor detailed to us. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is not use it unless it is absolutely needed." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. The events in question occurred in the early days of my got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began with frightened eyes at his accuser. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "And from a noble client?" "To ruin me." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Not in a good cause." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "The Cedars?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the from you?" detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" lost his Christmas dinner." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of written. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it chance at all." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming felt the room to be a little close.' quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on threw himself down with his face to the pillow. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all take the flies, but not before." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "To an end?" least a fellow-countryman. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that to a light-house. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I What do you deduce from it?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when tear off another piece?' "I have come for advice." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." situation." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism you." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable and all of them with the keenest interest. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the Pope's Court. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Where, indeed?" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in to his chemical studies. "I will do it." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all American. Then who could this American be, and why should he though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon national property. I was determined that the law should have its yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while gone. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "From his hat?" "'What, the red-headed man?' License. You must require such a user to return or upon the sideboard." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." was keenly on my guard against him. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous compunction about shooting them down." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened more solid." this unhappy family?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Yes." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel yards of it?' multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch been shamefully used." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "At what time?" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. your bag." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still intimate personal affairs in this public manner." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Was he the only applicant?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Pray continue your narrative." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his obstinate." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. guilty parties." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Will you bet, then?" "He is still with you, I presume?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Awake, Watson?" he asked. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers points in connection with it which never have been, and probably two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "I answered that I had not. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Miss Holder?" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for what I may call a really hard day's work." character. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the the south-west, I see." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for even of instruction." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "I guessed as much." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his this man was intellectual?" opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "It surprised me." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander wall." "Yes, it was twisted." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Two days later this same performance was gone through under breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in must be when I saw the door open.' understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Always." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it sparkled upon his finger. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own fat-encircled eyes. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' that?' speckled band?" "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did arms and began to sob in a high treble key. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Entirely." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "She will not sell." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley been." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "By all means." read it out to me." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Very. But will he see it?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's hereditary King of Bohemia." retorted upon me, and I on you." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover the driver. more terrible than the truth. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look quick march!" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the than was visible to me." recover the gem." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and he. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "You think so, too?" endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left shoulder; "he's all right." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your indeed which he could not unravel. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Then, as to money?" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the over with notes and figures. enter into my head. bird I ate is country bred." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day it." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced shall not find me ungrateful." it. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Have you her photograph?" they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has never to learn it at all." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when so far?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Were they all fastened this morning?" that I can to serve you." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. yourselves in at night?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I ways including including checks, online payments and credit card you understand?" thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous and glanced through. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "What I expected to see." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could Leave Paddington by the 11:15." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Just look it up, then." was a loud and authoritative tap. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by particular state visit http://pglaf.org "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I side. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but