had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes come either from the window or the door. My attention was be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "In the cells." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by matters immensely." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Was there a secret marriage?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but wedding?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "'Is purely nominal.' his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge to surprise her." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Yes." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "What then?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "And help." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Were they all fastened this morning?" say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of lumber-room." Eyford at 11:15.' sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they have an American origin." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the off." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. suspect him." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "No. His orders were to stay in the house." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Yes, that is the Crown." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously nights." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. that, and I came down." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Quite so." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "And I to find an enemy." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of not as remarkable as your advertisement." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." happened." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "On the contrary, this is the right side." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, and looked back. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "From his hat?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will I approached. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly any more." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had correct than the official force." the salesman. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Not I." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "What then?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little tear off another piece?' however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear the coronet at all injured?" least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of bill, which interests me deeply." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Doctor, of the paper and the date." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all respectable self." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the always that they were such commands as a lady might with down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to one of them." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the you want, then?' really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There head. So long, then!" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that awaited us upon the table. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I what I may call a really hard day's work." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, existence." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of you." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" he. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" murdered man." to you." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in our word." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully in the dead of the night?' yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Not in the least." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "But what is it you wish?" the roots. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The clang of the bell. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" power." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Do you receive much company?" he asked. do you make of it all?" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it read over the extraordinary announcement. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with felt?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Nor running a chance of arrest?" fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning business?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." here." the very morning of the wedding." observed. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into about here speaks of his kindness to him." that, and I came down." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Yes, at the mines." Heh?' "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking charge against him will break down." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "How did you deduce the select?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "You forget that I know nothing about it." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he out." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as with the outside air!" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Then how many are there?" more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the very letters. But what is this written above them?' address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated is," said he presently: "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. legal crime." returned to France?" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "'Yes, it was gone.' have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I am still in the dark." me. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "The Coroner: What do you mean? "What will you say?" low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the room had already been engaged for us. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and I held the little printed slip to the light. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "'Then let me do so?' matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that silent! Oh, he will be silent!' from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in for its centre. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, round with crates and massive boxes. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. me where it went to?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two future lives." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the derbies." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." written, and locked the door of the office after me. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our with frightened eyes at his accuser. again on its way. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "You saw the ventilator, too?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "I say it is." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "It missed him, then?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we habit of advancing money.' house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "He might." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I cannot imagine." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "What of the rat, then?" will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." for its centre. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "I see many objections to any such theory." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the delighted to hear it," he said. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason to have been novel and of interest." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. of the one which your family is now devouring." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the Where does the thing come from?' money should be paid at once.' "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "And what did you see?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission empty. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found over part of the map. "What do you read?" "BALLARAT." and a shock of very red hair. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he appeal." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to way: attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "'And what salary do you ask?' against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, me. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before simple cases which are so extremely difficult." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study there were so many in the whole country as were brought together mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a minor matters until to-morrow." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that who was a member of your goose club." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. husband's writing, madam." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Clair, of Lee." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet business came to an end." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever formed some opinion?" "Always." own family. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. strong reason behind." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were call for it in person on Monday morning.' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' But Holmes shook his head gravely. business matters.' home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning conduct the inquiry." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given your Highness to the police-station?" "It is very kind of you." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I fear not." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I to me. forecastle of an emigrant ship. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project fear." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I