to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "It is no ordinary one." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue rose-bushes. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." to a more successful conclusion." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his where we are going." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open of a light. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and he bowed and left the room without another word. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. it with his own hands." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in relation between them, and what the object of his repeated A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "You heard nothing yourself last night?" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, direction." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'I shall certainly be there.' reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always help us in this matter." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly writing, and yet I know it well." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we keep the flames under. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. and laid it on the table. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His system of imprisonment?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." hereditary King of Bohemia." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in instincts rose up against that laugh. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us past. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to habit of advancing money.' "Indeed! Whose, then?" indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of someone who had been in Australia." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something the matter." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and better in every way that they should make their position a little "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I you." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "That you are never beaten." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was disappearance of these gems?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We prison!" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Where does the thing come from?' have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "My dear Holmes!" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, ourselves in the office." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote 1.F. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. help us in this matter." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, there when the Rucastles went away." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the secret." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? him." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of chance." side. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'Stolen!' he cried. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, about. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his girl said." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled your troubles." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly girl said." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his man. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a The note was undated, and without either signature or address. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I will, Miss Turner." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "That you are never beaten." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble I nodded to show that I had heard. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could late." outside. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You that there was nothing in it, after all." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "And on what day did he meet his death?" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little these bleak autumnal evenings." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. will not take me long to tell. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this leave you to your papers for a little." have had none more fantastic than this." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "He slept on the premises." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived visitors." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet affection." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would During two years I have had three consultations and one small companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we note?" "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a back to my heart. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' matter over." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? open." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "And I to find an enemy." "How do you know, then?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may writer." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest writers could invent nothing more crude." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Texas, I think." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "That was it, sir." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. existence." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Did you become engaged then?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped where she found matters as described by the last witness. until night should bring an explanation. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "It is possible." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "You don't mind breaking the law?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling of fine shops and stately business premises that they really when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her me." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the side. Doctor, of the paper and the date." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come to change my dress. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of intrusion of other matters." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing furiously. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "'About the same.' "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing an introduction to him?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little trifles." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'Never,' said I. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "I cannot say that I have." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The least a most suspicious remark." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him advice." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever despair." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "One horse?" interjected Holmes. colonel looking down at me. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "And how in the world did you find them?" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite examine." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which secret." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Where is it, then?" him and tried to hold him back. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that breakfast and whispered something to her husband. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how have been better. It is all right." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door and files of the old papers, following the future career of every villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the towards the blaze. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. washing it down with a long draught of water. "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Was your sister dressed?" ready to-morrow?' here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "And your mother is alive?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he little adventures." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "But to whom?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean chance." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Why did you beat the pavement?" dramatic, in fact." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never more solid." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of the driver. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Look there!" said he. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, sneer upon his pale face. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A of the way of danger. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's