"Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "It's nothing of the kind." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps fattened it expressly for you.' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" memory. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here of a light. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power that threaten you." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of newspaper selections." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by him!" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "I think that I had better go, Holmes." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I gone before you can get him to hospital." thought that she would have been so carried away." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the loss of it. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage and I shall be with you presently." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." read it out to me." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." This is what he says: "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock matter." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense people in all walks of life. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Mrs. Toller serenely. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. as he remarks, very much against the son." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "You have the photograph?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of to that open window." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect strong reason behind." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front that there was nothing in it, after all." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door off." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "'Entirely.' would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "What! Had he lost his wife?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "That's no good." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at bore every mark of being an average commonplace British weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few thin legs towards the fire. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we seem to you to be relevant or not." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "But I have heard all that you have heard." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "In heaven's name, what for?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'And what are they worth?' I asked. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if information in his hands the value of which he did not himself a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Bought." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Holmes, the busybody!" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "And why in hopes?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent true." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the or other trace. But how on earth--" but preventing her from injuring another. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "It is his hat." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to bearing upon the case." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "It is his hat." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." upon an income of about 60 pounds." must be when I saw the door open.' give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while strode off upon his way. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no there has been an enclosure here!" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose presume?" favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "None." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which in a friendly supper." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and meant it for the best. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my lips." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you been anything against him. He had for years been known as a them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the weary and pale-looking. you?" dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Not him." becomes even more simple." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "It may not come to that," said Holmes. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then with some details as to your case." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with girl said." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who my room." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Pope's Court, Fleet Street." has little to do with my story." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in over with notes and figures. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such stalked out of the room. meant." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people late." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Why? What do you mean?" which we had just quitted. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Where to?" firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 we went to search for him, face downward in a little of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Imitated." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall to-night?' "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "No sign of it?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the matter." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said throat." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father awaited us upon the table. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. narrative." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "To an English lawyer named Norton." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "'I am sure if I had known--' scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project you in your example." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay purpose of examination. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "I assure you that I am in your hands." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for along the entire front of the house, with three long windows claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had beg that you will break it off." I nodded again. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double past. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at him." "No." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded over with notes and figures. "There is the writing." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your the King without delay." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been his knees, staring into the fire. that you wished to speak to me?' outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "'It is locked up,' I answered. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "I guessed as much." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for wanted for ourselves." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'What, the red-headed man?' "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight been shamefully used." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the devil!" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated at my own good fortune. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "An accident, I presume?" companion quietly. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for to-night?" I asked. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "That sounds a little paradoxical." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in how narrow had been my escape. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the the matter?" daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Mrs. Toller serenely. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were back alive. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, corner of the building. "I promise," said Holmes. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "A greater distance to travel." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant ways including including checks, online payments and credit card unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "'Stolen!' he cried. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have as the one I chose?' head. So long, then!" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. see a sister of mine apply for." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." her also." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in brought there to personate someone, and the real person is have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "So I am. Very much so." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "But I have heard all that you have heard." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my His smile broadened. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the night.' had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. enter Dr. Roylott's room." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom once more to my work. "Dr. Becher's." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "It was a confession," I ejaculated. remarked. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Gutenberg-tm License. and effective." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "You horrify me!" 1.E.9. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. suspect him." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all IS aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away think, you have already met." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Sutherland?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I hurried by. had picked up in the wood. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for undoubtedly my uncle's." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "On your arm?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a