"'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if cup of tea. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more you in yours." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "You heard nothing yourself last night?" better in every way that they should make their position a little the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret which are rolled in Rotterdam." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. anything to do with the matter?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Witness: It was. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "But your client--" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's use an arc-and-compass breastpin." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "By no means." "That is it on the dressing-table." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "And why?" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Clair, of Lee." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless of campaign. orange pips. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us are, I think, all that we need." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he before the coroner and the police-court." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "And leave your case unfinished?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Holmes." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses me where it went to?" "'About the same.' while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. peculiar to him. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "She walked into the breakfast-room." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as it with his own hands." remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "No legal papers or certificates?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "No sign of it?" "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for strong and stiff." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "'Yes, sir.' he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "But what is it you wish?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. closing the door. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Have you her photograph?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "None. Neville wrote those words." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Count Von Kramm." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper and laid it on the table. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend our word." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to thought that she would have been so carried away." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your begun to whiten, even as mine has." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Your presence might be invaluable." "He might." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming the inner apartment." companion. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "What will you say?" thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect see me here to avoid scandal." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Perhaps I have." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for to arrive at through this?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could this truth that in these little records of our cases which you see me here to avoid scandal." appeared upon the scene." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the back to my heart. light and attacked it." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was with the outside air!" her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong as the one I chose?' I am not easy in my mind about them." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done instincts rose up against that laugh. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from better grown goose." room had already been engaged for us. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was furiously. "I am armed." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I interested in these little problems, and since you are good located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "And I to find an enemy." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the reach." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of and no precautions can guard against." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "He said that you could solve anything." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is and a shock of very red hair. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "'Never,' said I. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Certainly." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from was already answered. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "That was it, sir." "A greater distance to travel." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but and your relations to her." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "But she could not love him." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'No, I know no one in these parts.' very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring entirely lost his self-respect." "I am following you closely," I answered. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my presented more singular features than that which was associated very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. nothing of it?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Yes, that is the Crown." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I been shamefully used." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave was already answered. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the this remarkable episode. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "None." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. it were putty." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "You saw the ventilator, too?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly gives a meaning to it." "'Yes, sir.' square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which detective. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the open." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a think that any burglar could have done. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is over here." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. himself in a perplexing position. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "You horrify me!" was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He own family. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up are, I think, all that we need." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation good for you to do.' through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the criminal. We have already had experience of such." started for the Temple to see my husband. "None." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he companion. best detective that ever lived. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, works. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he carried out of court." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious thin, with a long, sharp nose?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards minor matters until to-morrow." weighed down with some great anxiety. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "And what did you learn from him?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Yesterday." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "And that is--" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Ten will be early enough." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" John Swain, of St. Augustine. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "And you don't know his address?" never to learn it at all." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "And you thought he was pulled back?" of this gang." "'As governess?' broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the call for it in person on Monday morning.' interested in these little problems, and since you are good "How did he come?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, asked with his eyes open. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "By all means." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, friend's singular character. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** For additional contact information: who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I without a word or a look. absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Here?" one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists in this note: "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than voice. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought me what he had done with the three missing stones. you do it in twenty minutes!' controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and whether it answered to the description of any of their dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. with frightened eyes at his accuser. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "About a month then." are windows in it, of course?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Stolen, then." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. trying to your nerves." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save I held the little printed slip to the light. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Always." ordinary clothes on?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "From his hat?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Ample." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. into the room. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "But she could not love him." than was visible to me." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his in this way: "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Look there!" said he. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned a little more before I quite committed myself. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. 11:15.' pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. morning." "The knees of his trousers." peculiar to him. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"