had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by bachelor.' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand colour had been driven from his face. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular best detective that ever lived. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Yes, he did." politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "One horse?" interjected Holmes. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her for its centre. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I important." "What shall I do?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the matter." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Miss Holder?" for the market.' "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar skylight. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "If I can be of use." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Precisely." "If so, much may have happened between." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just colour had been driven from his face. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into test if we have an answer to our advertisement." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the ventilator." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the hopeless attempt at recovering them." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a will find little credit to be gained out of this case." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. Does that suggest anything?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the there is a decided draught." "Yes, all." "In which, sir?" "It certainly sounds feasible." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "No, I had a dozen." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Yes." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? at home. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen just called myself is not exactly my own." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project this man was intellectual?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever not interfere, come what may. You understand?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or o'clock is it?" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "One of his hands." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even thin, with a long, sharp nose?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to problems help me to do so." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, galvanised. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of them?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the morning and make my own way in the world.' ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his stepfather?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "May I see it?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the visitors." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "I see many objections to any such theory." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "It must be recovered." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Here?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' experiences." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." details." is a common subject for conversation. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling out of this horrible affair." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." only touch the interest." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, outside. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of works. See paragraph 1.E below. rat could hardly pass through." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new know what is wrong with it.' eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Very truly yours, "How many? I don't know." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way girl said." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the down from London to inquire more deeply into it." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." guilty parties." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Arthur Conan Doyle given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck which I could not give. He asked for Alice. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." sparkled upon his finger. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Do you know him?" I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Pope's Court. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America on re-entering her father's house?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Precisely." there was no need for father to know." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "It is solved." weapon." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "But not more so than I to find you." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb interested in these little problems, and since you are good metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet as this. Pray let me have the details." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were status with the IRS. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. more solid." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. assist you in forming an opinion." "What then?" beg that you will break it off." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "A confidential servant?" my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased which it had come upon my father." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the Red-headed League." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Married! When?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "And what then?" with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their third from London." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this companion. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "You have it, sir, just as it happened." light and attacked it." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "An accident, I presume?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, behind me. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Pray do so." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a friends, not even his own brother. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Oh, fresh and glossy." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with outside." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, he died? come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we to surprise her." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon I think that I could be of assistance to you." "In what way?" asked Holmes. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper nonsense.' multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine most interesting one." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and until night should bring an explanation. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the retorted upon me, and I on you." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed may have an influence upon European history." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic shoulder. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "This photograph!" "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Holmes rather sternly. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand into the bag, and made for the door. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "When did it break out?" I leave." "You have compromised yourself seriously." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain His smile broadened. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always less than 26s. 4d. "But how?" across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "What will you do, then?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to indeed happy." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite front of the hall door has given its name to the place. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that have one." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "You were travelling in the States?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent child?' important." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it possible that we could bring him back to her? "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Not yet." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "What office?" was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a to talk it over. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady My friend smiled. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is Pool. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "A greater distance to travel." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "I promise," said Holmes. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but over with notes and figures. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. footfalls from the street. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, presented more singular features than that which was associated he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked writing, and yet I know it well." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "'Oh, no.' closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. that he will be back before evening." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his she slowly sank and died without having recovered her of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social not as remarkable as your advertisement." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you over with notes and figures. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'Quite sure, dad.'