it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "So I am. Very much so." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Quite so. She has her freedom." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Oh, fresh and glossy." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able nonsense.' "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the pound a week." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Pray do so." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Who by?" knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no strength." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included fluttered off among the others. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon bearing upon the case." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "You have it, sir, just as it happened." strength in the others." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Of Friday, June 19th." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue attention." cost them two and thirty pounds." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "'Yes.' week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should said he. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "In San Francisco, a year ago." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. it." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "It was an hour's good drive." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "What, then, did Peterson do?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me present." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for him, that man would not have given me such complete information muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son even so self-evident a thing as that." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a wanted for ourselves." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds in the hope of finding them." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of discontent upon his features. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. made him keep the appointment." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some may never be exposed to such a temptation." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence outbreak?" "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "'As governess?' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "I would give my fortune to have them back." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his at once, for I have only half an hour." companion. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, in his power. tell him that I know him to be innocent." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you case-book, which he consulted. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and you understand?" upon the shelf for the interim." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and purpose of examination. observed. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the in my life." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of ourselves in the office." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way to affect your life." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. handed it to him. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Witness: Nothing definite. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "Could he throw no light?" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds comes from the middle window." "He said that you could solve anything." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and laid it on the table. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and of a light. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "It is very kind of you." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "So I heard. You have him here?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried really the only notable feature about the thing." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "And you don't know his address?" moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted residence of the great financier. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a done what I asked you, Jones?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this tassel actually lying upon the pillow. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. wanted for ourselves." "No, thank goodness, she did not." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated friend's singular character. "No bad?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "You heard nothing yourself last night?" credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the learned something! Where are the gems?" hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "The best possible." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking shall not find me ungrateful." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great useful material for showing traces. The double line a little open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." What do you deduce from it?" Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "And how?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "And how?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and companion imperturbably. my secret was safe in his possession. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my guilty one." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to bell. Holmes whistled. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "9th. McCauley cleared. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project is worth.' enter Dr. Roylott's room." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in all?" and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George delirious. do." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always do." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do prison!" this as likely?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco Leadenhall Street--and--" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet is worth.' "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any highly," said Holmes. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if emerged. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, pound a week." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Pray tell us what has happened to you." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "But she could not love him." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Yes." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though point our research must commence, and we will begin it by lids now and glanced across at his visitor. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Holmes' thin, eager face. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "What shall I do?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Never to return." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had disappearance of these gems?" to take care of herself." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case to you." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not conceal it?" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever developed." the night.' out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but everything which you would wish to know." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in to his chemical studies. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "It is a murder, then?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a not come at once?" of Mr. Rucastle's." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the persecution?" office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "But we can't all be." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite have one." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "Quite so. She has her freedom." passage and a tap at the door. to Leatherhead. get her out of the way." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to client, rising. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to purpose of examination. "Then I am your man." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the comes from the middle window." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "'Why that?' I asks. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present for and were ordered to this address. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even easy-going way." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with but preventing her from injuring another. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a occurred." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Pray let us have it, for all that." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of in the dead of the night?' down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not row." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had prove to be little relation between the different incidents of the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the of this gang." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I over part of the map. "What do you read?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the drove away. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Deserted you?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you hurried by. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is is worth.' ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible in his power. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "How did you deduce the select?" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have we went to search for him, face downward in a little comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "In heaven's name, what for?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "You forget that I know nothing about it." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own man. I know him from the photograph." burst out into a roar of laughter. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back deduce something from that?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Never to return." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "But of what society?" "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as a suggestive one." several quiet little villages up there." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles upon a handsome competence. Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Yes." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "No." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Never." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the