unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. outbreak?" Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on eat it." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Pray do so." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Yes, I have one waiting." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he purpose of examination. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between future lives." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." hour." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her never to learn it at all." "Yes." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "There are none." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one father's place of business?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the written, and locked the door of the office after me. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would his wife has ceased to love him." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She then?" said Mr. Holder. definite end. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Breckinridge is his name." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he crowd. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Arthur Conan Doyle written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." taking in every detail of the apartment. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Nothing." The events in question occurred in the early days of my also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little tail." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "You have compromised yourself seriously." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little in the hope of finding them." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is get her out of the way." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and Lee, in the county of Kent." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his and wait." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on amused." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I was afraid that you were engaged." the nursery. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to of Mr. Rucastle's." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have shall not find me ungrateful." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" used to be." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "What! You do not mean bodies?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "And I." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she morning." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and shall not find me ungrateful." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Absolutely none." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America had died away into the silence from which it rose. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "My dear Holmes!" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "I cannot as yet see any connection." "I have hopes." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "My dear Holmes!" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Your sister is dead, then?" wall." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own British peeress.'" were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which me upon any point which I do not make clear." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us politicians who had been sent down from the North. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? useful material for showing traces. The double line a little into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "9th. McCauley cleared. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at clanging. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Certainly." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "And what then?" time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug conduct the inquiry." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "I will get her to show me." "And you thought he was pulled back?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Yes." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine Where does the thing come from?' "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg was used.' what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able my room." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view even of instruction." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "9th. McCauley cleared. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it Holmes' thin, eager face. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "It is to him that this trophy belongs." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Pray do so." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that conceal it?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me bedroom door." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "What, then, did Peterson do?" Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." like gravel from a pit.' He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Come in!" said Holmes. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the and I shall be with you presently." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "They are typewritten," I remarked. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very lids now and glanced across at his visitor. and have this put in the evening papers." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my know what is wrong with it.' There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, point in the dark hollow of his hand. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. matters immensely." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of affair. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching again." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker status with the IRS. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "And your father? Did you tell him?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the laugh and put his lips to my ear. "No legal papers or certificates?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "No." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my third from London." "I am still in the dark." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into to-night's adventure." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "'Stolen!' he cried. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of ran thus: "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a reach." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed started for the Temple to see my husband. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Street. carriage. It was a chestnut." "I fear not." horse could go." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "But she will refuse." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have never came back." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen paper in the air. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which sofa. This way, please!" "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "And now?" He raised his hand. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. here and I will read it to you: box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Then, how do you know?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another again, where I was soon asleep. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set words came to my lips. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but man. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Could he throw no light?" "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Oh, yes, easily." heavy and sharp instrument." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Who by?" "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Then I shall certainly come." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when you for a few hours?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of hand, madam?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." over here." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I foresight and the moral retrogression?" have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Then I am your man." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "But she could not love him." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship prisoner's face. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Ten will be early enough." discontent upon his features. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "'You cannot say what it was?' "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began like gravel from a pit.' "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "I was sure that I might rely on you." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a charge against him will break down." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that character. way in." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should in one or two places in England?' Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The late!' my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "What do you mean?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I say that I have solved it." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "That sounds a little paradoxical." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant I took the paper from him and read as follows: devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "By train from Waterloo." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. people in all walks of life. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, the salesman. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if here." "I cannot imagine." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a happened." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an