and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, possible that we could bring him back to her? Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of obstinate." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few in a friendly supper." "Could he throw no light?" "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine of it with the greatest attention. "Perhaps I have." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. breakfast?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "'I shall certainly be there.' up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Where, indeed?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused weapon." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' business in the City. She little knew what. situation." bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and nothing of it?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect all?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of believe that I should never have any practice at all. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," own family. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on absorbing." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to client, rising. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'Yes, sir.' stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he entirely devoid of interest." heavy and sharp instrument." when your master had gone out." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and followed. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a of your young ladies.' follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present away to you." go--none." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the in your London, you will know that the office of the company is you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "The gentleman I describe." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the devil!" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained sooner or later she must fall a victim. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "And what did you learn from him?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and call it cruel." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for as he folded up the epistle. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "But you have hopes?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, her also." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that time." jewels which you have stolen?' very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled washing it down with a long draught of water. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so man. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A certainly not very gracious." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Not in the least." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round down. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey these bleak autumnal evenings." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her events than those which have happened in my own family." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his For additional contact information: glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he developed." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll front of me. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. bare slabs of marble. "It looks newer than the other things?" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing that he has suffered." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "The gentleman I describe." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "I am following you closely," I answered. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "But not more so than I to find you." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Has he come with you to-night?" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "How did you deduce the select?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person strength of mind to control. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I over here." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at call you and give you the chance." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was said he. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. business at Coburg Square is serious." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "How often?" Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master strong reason behind." was a perfect sample of the class. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where you." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Very truly yours, remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but future lives." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Here?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Stolen." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the quickly through a disagreeable task. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "Whose house is it?" in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on father's place of business?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told This is what he says: story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried chance at all." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at skylight. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Not I." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Was she in good spirits?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' appointment with me for six o'clock?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and was already answered. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "The vanishing of the lady." for securing the situation." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as said I. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they such person." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "You will not go there first?" security.' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some colour had been driven from his face. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias time." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly weighed down with some great anxiety. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Imitated." least a most suspicious remark." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been do." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length which our visitor detailed to us. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, confronted him. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "How did he come?" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I am about to be married." be best to do. "Only as much as we can deduce." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Dark enough and sinister enough." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "From his hat?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "It is true that I have been generally successful." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of maid will bring up your coffee." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "I see no marks." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch amused." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the tell him that I know him to be innocent." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only of note-paper. It read in this fashion: everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "A call for help, you thought?" traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. out of this horrible affair." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened shag which I had seen upon the previous night. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its was the fact that his father should, according to his account, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "His face fell immediately. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he his fortune, and I went back to pa. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. charge against him will break down." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning there in twenty minutes." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Then he might have called to you?" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'Never.' "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly papers diligently of late, have you not?" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Countess of Morcar's?" say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as