"Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I to a light-house. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the undoubtedly my uncle's." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the I think that I could be of assistance to you." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "How are you getting on?" very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so newspaper selections." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray guilty one." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the IS a monotonous occupation." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott asked. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between of a light. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally had no one to advise her at such a crisis." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I him." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which strength of mind to control. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had before the coroner and the police-court." "Absolutely?" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "He might." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged begin with, and I had not got mine yet." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which letters?" "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt the date of his supposed suicide." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the gone. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is infinite languor in his face. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. him to be an active member of the medical profession." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and six. Come in!" coat-tails." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where shoulder. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad fire. You quite follow me?" Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had go back?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was you." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would manager. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest because she had spent so short a time in this country that she right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Dark enough and sinister enough." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell http://gutenberg.net/license). middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. him and tried to hold him back. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. new acquaintance to Baker Street. have accepted such a situation. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "No, but the enclosure is." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "How often?" "That sounds a little paradoxical." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "'As governess?' prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Look there!" said he. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "To an English lawyer named Norton." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "But I have heard all that you have heard." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted with her." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the hands. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. about. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "'Oh, no.' I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the prisoner's face. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my maid will bring up your coffee." charged with?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he For additional contact information: withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "We must sit without light. He would see it through the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced crime. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "My own seal." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The young Openshaw's." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a important." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most the running down." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "You have compromised yourself seriously." lamp. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "And who is her maid?" Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Well, it is a possible supposition." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Your sister is dead, then?" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "And how?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from II. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "'Most admirably.' husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that quickly through a disagreeable task. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project the coronet at all injured?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock said I. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his congenial hunt. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "'Certainly not. But why?' something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. I have it here in my museum." "No." salesman. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed to some other building. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Thank you. And your address?" Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to From what you have told me I think that it is possible that carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "And how did you find out?" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Who was the criminal, then?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something his eyes and forehead. "What then?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders examine." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a a little more before I quite committed myself. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his just called myself is not exactly my own." rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "How did you deduce the select?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being discontent upon his features. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." make me his representative both with the servants and with the him nearly every evening." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works better in every way that they should make their position a little nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a character. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which upon the white wrist. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a companion. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." discontent upon his features. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely floor. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled written. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that secret." the nursery. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he seen the man in the road." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" than to us. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "I cannot tell." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. spark where all is dark to me." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." business?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall of fine shops and stately business premises that they really had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Yes." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Lee, in the county of Kent." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at within hail.' a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he good for you to do.' "You are all wrong." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations definite end. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the shaken than I had ever seen him. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "Where did he live, then?" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "'There is a drive, then?' "Oh, yes, easily." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely that?' husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "And why in hopes?" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "'What do you call purely nominal?' "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of crime." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith was used.' who was a member of your goose club." other lovers by making love himself." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "To ruin me." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the as yours." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "No, distinctly professional." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." your Highness to the police-station?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'What then?' I asked. the roots. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, with her." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper tied." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new geese which you supplied to the Alpha." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful manager. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she redistribution. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "He said that you could solve anything." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I room. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Yes, he did." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan future lives." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. at a side door. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was cheerful." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than already referred to. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. more terrible than the truth.