away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the points to suicide?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was most interesting one." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so events, Mr. Windibank!" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Seven!" I answered. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "That is possible." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and gives a meaning to it." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. more terrible than the truth. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy overpowering excitement and concern. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "And how did you verify them?" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out have established a very serious case against the son of the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been respectable self." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself one's self under obligations.' "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "I was afraid that you were engaged." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the or other trace. But how on earth--" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, companion quietly. "And I to find an enemy." "No, I think that I'll take it." and I shall be with you presently." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way again, where I was soon asleep. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been writing, and yet I know it well." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is nights." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Eyford at 11:15.' "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for fatally injured? "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook be.' that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and money should be paid at once.' other means.' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us front of me. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read for securing the situation." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "There are none." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Frequently." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the matter." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to strode off upon his way. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "It is possible." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, see me here to avoid scandal." "'Certainly,' I answered. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a all?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second and files of the old papers, following the future career of every had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "The best possible." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Why, what do you mean?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a you found me to-night--and running through the front room she was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, http://gutenberg.net/license). I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Was your sister dressed?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, absorbing." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. instincts rose up against that laugh. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; 1.F. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small back alive. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "'I have heard so.' "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it into her hand at the door and which lured her within their present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of unkempt, staring out at me. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. and your relations to her." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "To ruin me." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and joking. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. hair?' "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." skylight. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, himself. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the mysterious end." strength in the others." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, sneer upon his pale face. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Proceed, then." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these you for a few hours?" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a call you and give you the chance." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque call you and give you the chance." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Yes, all." pressing in one house as in another. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Here?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Where to?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." salesman. "I think that it is very probable." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us could not account in any way for the presence of the missing a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to once more. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the inquest, and which are worth considering." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this beg that you will break it off." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the was a lad." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly o'clock is it?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly you." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, particular state visit http://pglaf.org "What are they?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "You think so, too?" fatally injured? he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said so.' his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the window, rose as we entered. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger been shamefully used." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again tapping his fingers upon the table. the bottom.' the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Your presence might be invaluable." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and overpowering excitement and concern. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Breckinridge is his name." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, hardly wander." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "That is also quite modern," said the lady. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, upon an income of about 60 pounds." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for goes." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "I cannot tell." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "'As governess?' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Pray do so." thin legs towards the fire. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of License. You must require such a user to return or since then to throw any light upon what became of him." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy cause to be." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Yes, there are nearly always some there." IS thirty. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become south, for the country is more deserted there." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on my little problems." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "On Monday." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such might help us?" look dissatisfied." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both read it out to me." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was empty. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in dates and names. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you little trying to do so much typewriting?" The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a lips." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together It may be so in this case, also." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as him, that man would not have given me such complete information was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Why serious?" about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Not social, then?" who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See upon the sideboard." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a and looked back. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "No." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help up this clue while it is still hot." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "He slept on the premises." father's young wife. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "I am all attention, madam." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "In heaven's name, what for?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the you." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Not him." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. never to learn it at all." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Perhaps I have." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "What! a murderous attack?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further During two years I have had three consultations and one small my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are and wait." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to green of the new foliage. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they