strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his is so. I know all about McCarthy." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the where we are going." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, III. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would followed. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Never to return." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter tell me that you intended to go into harness." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the or in danger--" cup of tea. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "His face fell immediately. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir all?" my room." main points of my analysis." some city in a dream. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in business at Coburg Square is serious." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his father's young wife. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "A confidential servant?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "No, finished." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "And how did you verify them?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Pray continue your narrative." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, where she found matters as described by the last witness. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in and looked back. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would careless servant girl?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. call for it in person on Monday morning.' to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind cause to be." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes prisoner's face. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I not within a twentieth part of the market price." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Absolutely?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of made his money." pressing in one house as in another. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "It's nothing of the kind." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Which are?" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Nothing." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all purpose equally well?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in read over the extraordinary announcement. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner it. conduct the inquiry." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "I will do it." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, that you can jump it.' facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to villagers almost as much as their master. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows despaired of." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Whose house is it?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has shag which I had seen upon the previous night. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from over here." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our fluttered off among the others. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Not yet." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H grasp, he hurried from the room. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Who by?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into cigars in their mouths. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "The King of Scandinavia." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a assist you in forming an opinion." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going showing my impatience. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you case-book, which he consulted. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what young Openshaw's." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "A confidential servant?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport yet." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Pray continue your narrative." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "No, I think that I'll take it." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do in one or two places in England?' man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." and wait." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it ashen face. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Nor running a chance of arrest?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Really! You surprise me." ordinary clothes on?" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser floor. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point she to prove their authenticity?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "And sit in the dark?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the more solid." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. October 9, 1890. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he that you saw all that I did." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Have you it here?" carried out of court." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Yes, it was twisted." gigantic client. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small friend's singular character. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time that he has suffered." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of that you saw all that I did." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Holmes' room. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." investigation." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "You have it, sir, just as it happened." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Where did you address your letters, then?" "'I am sure if I had known--' Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Your French gold?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, answered with a sidelong glance. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. ordinary clothes on?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every derbies." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable giving me time to thank him. "In answer to an advertisement." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He like that before?" detained." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their signal between you and your father? we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe I held the little printed slip to the light. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Were they all fastened this morning?" sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "I am still in the dark." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little gigantic client. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Stolen, then." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one any little problem which you may submit to me." chambers. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Thank you. And your address?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in guilty one." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that carried out of court." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism noting anything else of interest. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. congratulate you again." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Where did you address your letters, then?" "My opinion is in no way altered." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the following enigmatical notices: "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, hardly wander." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be 11:15.' got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" floor. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." with you alone." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from goes." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a and glanced through. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from I shall continue with my miserable story. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. fluttered off among the others. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will points to suicide?" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH I took the paper from him and read as follows: "That is it on the dressing-table." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "He said too much." you." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has this unhappy family?" and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by instincts rose up against that laugh. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between public press." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered and laid it on the table. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran acted in my house last night?" innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of has little to do with my story." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." tapping his fingers upon the table. "I am still in the dark." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "'And what are they worth?' I asked. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that meant it for the best. I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making of note-paper. It read in this fashion: matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "But she will refuse." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the make me his representative both with the servants and with the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you thirty. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the very old mansion. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "You have compromised yourself seriously." green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a became a certainty. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and four million human beings all jostling each other within the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem all that?" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Stolen, then." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to lost nothing by them." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' chill to my heart. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Where is it, then?" uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "I see no marks." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from