views." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before to-night's adventure." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one invisible to me," I remarked. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Yes." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Yes, only one." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Perhaps we may make them less so." voice, changing her seat as requested. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "'Is 4 pounds a week.' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "That was it, sir." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Get out!" said he. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you long narrative. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, were new raised from a basin. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "What do you mean?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather that he has suffered." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "You will not go there first?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question gone. "An accident, I presume?" "Won't it ring?" direction." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Well." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, late." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his she has been waylaid. There has been no result." interests were the same as his." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. late!' slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Yes?" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "'Which dealer's?' "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "He slept on the premises." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do mysterious end." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "But of what society?" "'How far from the body?' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know habit of advancing money.' round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of bled considerably." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet death." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the could gather together that I was able to avert another public professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "There are none." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and father's young wife. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest any little problem which you may submit to me." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "I should wish to." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that to take care of herself." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such appeared upon the scene." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See so.' the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Was your sister dressed?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "And you don't know his address?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "His face fell immediately. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of during that time.' interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, and I shall be with you presently." jewels which you have stolen?' the bed, and you in that chair." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry My friend smiled. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Dirty?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your back to my heart. in my life." writing, and yet I know it well." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Holmes. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed may have an influence upon European history." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "But what will you do?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His village inn over there?" "Indeed! Whose, then?" brandy and water within his reach. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Texas, I think." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "We must have a cab." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own to arrive at through this?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "And you don't know his address?" wanted for ourselves." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "A confidential servant?" the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds in this note: either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "It is very kind of you." will take you up to see the machine.' weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower advice." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or enter Dr. Roylott's room." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "I cannot tell." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up maiden herself was most instructive." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you spare." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom head. So long, then!" of his shoulders. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "What!" he roared. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress furiously. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "That is unusual in a young girl." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. woman." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" use an arc-and-compass breastpin." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to the nursery. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building McCarthy." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "No, I think that I'll take it." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "The doctor?" "But of what society?" "That is easily got." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "None." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing children over to America with him, so that I found myself without enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is in this way: A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "I am to be neutral?" "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge nothing with him." present." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "But I am all in the dark." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace about. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to me. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me But Holmes shook his head gravely. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "I have seen the police." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not test if we have an answer to our advertisement." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Yes, only one." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to your Highness to the police-station?" and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I seen the man in the road." "Well, it is a possible supposition." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Seven!" I answered. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But possible that we could bring him back to her? "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who official police." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "No." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Thank you. Pray proceed." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in shall not find me ungrateful." individual and becomes the badge of a society." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I will not look." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. young Openshaw's." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but outside." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had depend upon my doing so.' "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "An accident, I presume?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we certainly do as you advise." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. 1.E.9. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "'Yes, it was gone.' propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Was the window open?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more his forehead." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm you." everything which you would wish to know." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "About a month then." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad several quiet little villages up there." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "'There is a drive, then?' time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not time." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "And leave your case unfinished?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Here?" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "And I." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open people in all walks of life. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "I am all attention, madam." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her before the coroner and the police-court." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San