we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought http://gutenberg.net/license). four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has to-morrow." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Henry Baker is a member." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party hurried away. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." chance at all." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that way in." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Certainly." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his approach us with offers to donate. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you strength of mind to control. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing straightened it out again. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." anything to do with the matter?" devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, memory. written. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was considering the formidable letters which were received by himself the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "She showed me, as I told you she would." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Then how many are there?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Yes." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old singular points about the case. What did the police think of the unprecedented a position." 'please.'" really the only notable feature about the thing." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to there is a decided draught." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "What then?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for seven miles from Eyford Station.' week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Yes." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the one which it was hard to resist. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the throat." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that Street. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" IS End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by the iron safe, which he closed upon it. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "I beg pardon." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "At half-wages, in fact." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is posted to-day." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but daring than any effort of the imagination." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "And what then?" chair. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling father's young wife. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, that, and I came down." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Stolen, then." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Pray do so." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once he died? lips." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "And I to find an enemy." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee more terrible than the truth. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Yes, sir." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I undoubtedly my uncle's." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution least a most suspicious remark." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Precisely." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes and wait." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup his cane at the bell-pull. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to questionable one." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same affection." "'Where to?' next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from shall not find me ungrateful." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which then?" roused himself from his reverie. "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Then I can wait in the next room." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant front of the hall door has given its name to the place. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "I have my revolver," said I. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of The summons was a brief and urgent one. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Frequently." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I think that it is very probable." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "None." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the very morning of the wedding." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to the Friday. Was it to be in church?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Was there a secret marriage?" "'Certainly,' I answered. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common hour?' his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Certainly, madam." Does that suggest anything?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Why, what do you mean?" "It is solved." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of cigars in the box." "Always." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Murdered?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Never." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have grasp, he hurried from the room. "Ah!" better in every way that they should make their position a little decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at man. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his that threaten you." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned chance." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "How many? I don't know." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'I am sure if I had known--' "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the when you have done it." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "The gentleman I describe." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "That is possible." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "At the wedding breakfast." here and I will read it to you: you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would room. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "It's nothing of the kind." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "And how did he make his money?" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "What have you to say now?" He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. to-night?" I asked. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his memory. it with his own hands." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Not him." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to http://gutenberg.net/license). sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "What will you say?" upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were time." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper nothing with him." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the whole matter to your consideration." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of your room." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was relief. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "I shall most certainly do so." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "How often?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless tension within him. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And will take you up to see the machine.' suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider detective. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "It surprised me." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns good for you to do.' "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done putting in the horse. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going things are very often connected not with the larger but with the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to characteristics, but those are the more obvious." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "'Yes, it was gone.' "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his villagers almost as much as their master. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Won't it ring?" him!" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in as yours." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that was feeling which was the fattest.' your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "I see no marks." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "It is a murder, then?" not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the companion quietly. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing morning." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That written. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I details should find their way into the papers. Inspector to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must burst out into a roar of laughter. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, if only as a check to my own memory." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he your only hope of safety." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the was keenly on my guard against him. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the one as in the other." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less the one as in the other." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Why? What do you mean?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a your Highness to the police-station?" jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you definite end. "No, my brougham is waiting." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked hair?' Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began present." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "It is no ordinary one." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are as he folded up the epistle. "Indeed! Whose, then?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "What are they?" tear off another piece?' accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "When did it break out?"