remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret opportunities to fix the problem. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." upon the sideboard." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted these bleak autumnal evenings." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources one else, I think." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it http://www.gutenberg.net "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be outsides of the windows. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Do you go out much in society?" morning." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and redistribution. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not placed his cuttings. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his 11:15.' friend's singular character. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. colonel looking down at me. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece train.' "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Clair, of Lee." the devil!" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "At half-wages, in fact." eavesdroppers?' "I never have." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." indeed happy." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. cost them two and thirty pounds." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Project Gutenberg-tm works. Project Gutenberg-tm works. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Could he throw no light?" me." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. envelope. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the the coronet at all injured?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place pictures, libraries, or plate. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the Red-headed League." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone more solid." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, few hundred pounds.' result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the looking up at the numbers of the houses." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I charged with?" tension within him. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Pray be precise as to details," said he. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right occurred." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the the driver. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I his huge brown hands. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this easy-going way." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that help us in this matter." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best this truth that in these little records of our cases which you state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "So it appears." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Thank you. And your address?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though even so self-evident a thing as that." "And you thought he was pulled back?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and looking up at the numbers of the houses." "It is very kind of you." all-comprehensive glances. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A desk. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I should like to see him very much." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' presume?" to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "If I can be of use." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Yes, it was twisted." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good said he. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. chance." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "We were both in the photograph." throat." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Will you bet, then?" the house with me." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so the so-precious time, but come!' analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, soul! here is her carriage at the door." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Then I can wait in the next room." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right mysterious end." think that any burglar could have done. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm pictures, libraries, or plate. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would tear off another piece?' the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my not within a twentieth part of the market price." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' already referred to. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always client, rising. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good in the port of London." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "'Never.' I held the little printed slip to the light. deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. the date of his supposed suicide." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "And that is--" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'In my own bureau.' you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check taking in every detail of the apartment. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that to-night?" I asked. furiously. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I page at http://pglaf.org that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "How did you trace it, then?" I have it here in my museum." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" matter." had this final quarrel? brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring annoyance, but no jest. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our information in his hands the value of which he did not himself in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring floor. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Seven!" I answered. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the note?" train.' locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "My opinion is in no way altered." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of to Leatherhead. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of said he. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "But what will you do?" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked side. to-morrow." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our business?" something of him before." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing like gravel from a pit.' takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the Stoke Moran." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a morning." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "I will not look." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I have come for advice." are windows in it, of course?" other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm this Miss Turner." "Where did he live, then?" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I beyond words. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we drawing your inferences." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of papers." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my drawing your inferences." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the manager. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "He is still with you, I presume?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Yesterday." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have crackling voice. "What!" he roared. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise hair?' Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child death." not come at once?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared that as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it threw himself down with his face to the pillow. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in imbecility!" he cried. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "I will not look." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "'Which dealer's?' loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Street. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out have one." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the what I may call a really hard day's work." "Stolen." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the at a side door. "Not him." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in some city in a dream. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off learned something! Where are the gems?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand there." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like hurried away. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is events than those which have happened in my own family." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." of Mr. Rucastle's." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and humiliation." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "And why in hopes?" "What can you not understand?" was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are are, I think, all that we need." galvanised. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "My dear Holmes!" Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth the ceiling. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must intimate personal affairs in this public manner." the inner apartment." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'Then let me do so?' "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'I am sure that I do not know.' "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had voice. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which might help us?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was would apply.' headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "I fear not." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Miss Holder?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it and your relations to her." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "How can you tell that?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I business." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Will you bet, then?" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing assist you in forming an opinion." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." cost them two and thirty pounds." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't sneer upon his pale face. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "'No, I know no one in these parts.' one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I with frightened eyes at his accuser. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." past. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth.