of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. morning." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps name is different." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it second." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "And your mother is alive?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "My own seal." asked with his eyes open. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the lost nothing by them." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was father's place of business?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed it with his own hands." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, affection." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and was a loud and authoritative tap. a good hundred miles off by now." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with again on its way. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "It's nothing of the kind." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, very morning of my second wedding." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they was a loud and authoritative tap. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' eavesdroppers?' looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "I know where it is." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Well." colonel looking down at me. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended my room." acted in my house last night?" "May I see it?" "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "That is it on the dressing-table." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I been anything against him. He had for years been known as a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "How did you deduce the select?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Did you observe the colour?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, careless servant girl?" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I acquaintance?" way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, it." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "You were travelling in the States?" myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "What of the rat, then?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Murdered?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the an introduction to him?" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could following enigmatical notices: roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "That's no good." crackling voice. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not acted in my house last night?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "Here?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There this as likely?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his easy-going way." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "'In my own bureau.' slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which later, upon the night of May 2nd." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" locked. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no of receipt of the work. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and placed his cuttings. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Yes, the wine-cellar." case before our client came into the room." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, strode off upon his way. "No, I am descending." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his you?" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, new duties?' "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Here?" said I. becomes even more simple." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by attention." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the matters immensely." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Come in!" said he. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "I am following you closely," I answered. excitement. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "But how?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and up this clue while it is still hot." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble lost his Christmas dinner." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. manager. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "She told me to ask you." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Yes." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg case-book, which he consulted. "The knees of his trousers." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed carried out of court." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "But what harm can there be in that?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even felt the room to be a little close.' "The vanishing of the lady." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "'About the same.' "Why, what do you mean?" money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which outbreak?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been colonel looking down at me. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we that, and I came down." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Yes, only one." "'Stolen!' he cried. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel might have a private word with us. cheerful." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his skylight. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "How many? I don't know." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still side. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for door?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her companion. "It looks newer than the other things?" easy-going way." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" that you can jump it.' I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Was your sister dressed?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter charged with?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will occupations.' hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words characteristics, but those are the more obvious." happened." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "I was afraid that you were engaged." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I will not look." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from you?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Precisely." Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "'What, the red-headed man?' disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "That you are never beaten." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers people in all walks of life. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. at home. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "How about poison?" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, answered with a sidelong glance. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Not particularly." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the himself in a perplexing position. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have possible that we could bring him back to her? might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "But she could not love him." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of to a light-house. "I have solved it." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this his eyes and forehead. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers where we are going." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he salesman. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would she has been waylaid. There has been no result." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Then I shall certainly come." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "No, finished." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." suddenly upon us." "It certainly sounds feasible." "Where, then?" "Was the window open?" "We were both in the photograph." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Not social, then?" giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Texas, I think." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some know all about it," he snarled. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Certainly." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you to me. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some not, dad?" she asked. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "That's no good." long narrative. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "'About the same.' something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body