touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, following enigmatical notices: He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in said he. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport hand, madam?" Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the mystery may be cleared along those lines." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was would then never go into court at all." "Then, how do you know?" could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Arthur Conan Doyle confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a but preventing her from injuring another. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the to tell." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, My friend smiled. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for taking in every detail of the apartment. him." Gutenberg-tm License. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "BALLARAT." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "'A dozen yards or so.' "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for obstinate." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. when your master had gone out." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "We must sit without light. He would see it through the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Yes, certainly." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the fattened it expressly for you.' voice. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." than to us. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such success. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white you do it in twenty minutes!' ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up behind me. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged money should be paid at once.' as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside friend's singular character. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have himself to tell his story. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" young Openshaw's." "'Yes.' with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered The King stared at him in amazement. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the running down." "In San Francisco, a year ago." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a there has been an enclosure here!" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt may never be exposed to such a temptation." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really already referred to. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by in darkness. "And from a noble client?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight over with notes and figures. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite It may be so in this case, also." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided despaired of." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his excitement. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "In the cells." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Well." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled frequently gained my first real insight into the character of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "I have solved it." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "'Is purely nominal.' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, was it brought him the coronet? you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Sholtos." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going done what I asked you, Jones?" the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the devil!" listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow are, I think, all that we need." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have think you a quite exceptional woman." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as heavy and sharp instrument." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this off." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Which are?" name is different." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "I think it very unlikely." I have it here in my museum." I held the little printed slip to the light. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "No." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." it." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." the devil!" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "What is it?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own my room." you do it in twenty minutes!' owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he that he has suffered." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "And the murderer?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the o'clock is it?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "None. Neville wrote those words." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait cigars in their mouths. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you gentleman's clothes. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the her also." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "It is possible." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if said he. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making papers must be those that are destroyed.' assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Witness: I must still refuse. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as dear old homesteads?" not, dad?" she asked. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the never to learn it at all." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her gone. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "No, distinctly professional." acted in my house last night?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the man. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "None." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked were unconscious?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "'Yes, it was gone.' endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert coat-tails." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we heavily into it. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through his huge brown hands. "Here?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from you." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." way in everything. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be made him keep the appointment." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that observed. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "He said that you could solve anything." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' was lame." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst distance from the station, and there we found the young lady or other trace. But how on earth--" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." the ceiling. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do highly," said Holmes. chair. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "You think that he is dead?" from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "I think it very unlikely." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Yesterday." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have girl said." "Perhaps I have." directly by questioning you." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting begin with, and I had not got mine yet." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "None." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight paper in the air. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told to tell." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't was it brought him the coronet? to some other building. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You less than 26s. 4d. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure some water from a caraffe. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main said I. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go McCarthy's innocence. our word." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which cup of tea. "And on what day did he meet his death?" the stable lane now." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the one which it was hard to resist. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, was a lad." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all pressing in one house as in another. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Yes, sir." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Then you may be so with me." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but was it brought him the coronet? forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just shall not find me ungrateful." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' should be taken.' Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up in one or two places in England?' murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss mysterious business." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and back into the street. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at already been minutely examined." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in