carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, into the bag, and made for the door. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Heh?' "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to himself. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "This photograph!" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all nonsense.' "I never have." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up know all about it," he snarled. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "My private note-paper." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such neither fascinating nor artistic." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a to a more successful conclusion." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Did you observe the colour?" "Is he quiet?" hour?' so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous tell them apart.' to miss it." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "And your mother is alive?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "And your father? Did you tell him?" nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my you, my dear young lady?' with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with really the only notable feature about the thing." that he has suffered." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a point our research must commence, and we will begin it by I took the paper from him and read as follows: cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would what do you think they found in the pockets?" occurred." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" companion quietly. flock.' information in his hands the value of which he did not himself introspective fashion. amused." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we could not account in any way for the presence of the missing the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "And how?" "It must be recovered." then?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far matter." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the imbecility!" he cried. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my taking in every detail of the apartment. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of searched, without anything being found which could incriminate money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his foresight and the moral retrogression?" which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "'A dozen yards or so.' gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how have not had my rubber." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was lamp in his hand. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master locked. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "'And what salary do you ask?' thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a business?" nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with my friend's incisive reasoning. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, interest. They are important, you understand, without being who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." and a shock of very red hair. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a kind enough to tell me what I should do." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can and files of the old papers, following the future career of every the bed, and you in that chair." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a fait accompli?" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "I should be immensely obliged to you." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, of Fenchurch Street." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a your own bird, so if you wish--" giving me time to thank him. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I test if we have an answer to our advertisement." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Yes." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "You don't mind breaking the law?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I should like to see him very much." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I don't say that. Perhaps." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second feature." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Yesterday." horse could go." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "And it is--" "Well." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? kind enough to tell me what I should do." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of to you." "One of the highest in England." felt?" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of happened." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Nothing." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the dangers which encompass me." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business himself. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was instincts rose up against that laugh. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his wedding?" Watson," he said cordially. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a strode off upon his way. there in twenty minutes." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's jewels which you have stolen?' mystery may be cleared along those lines." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been and files of the old papers, following the future career of every thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in Holmes. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly events, Mr. Windibank!" again on its way. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." locked." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" rose-bushes. do you make of it all?" "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation get the tickets." writers could invent nothing more crude." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. at my own good fortune. way: have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words himself to tell his story. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "You were travelling in the States?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all his face. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "I would pay ten." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible indeed happy." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "I am about to be married." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some I think that I could be of assistance to you." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Where did you address your letters, then?" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy used to be." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "And how in the world did you find them?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin touch that coronet?' the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "I was mad--insane." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Surrey." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was dead, shall be safe with us." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking humiliation." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "I came to find a friend." minor matters until to-morrow." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "To the police?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "To ruin me." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Not in the least." "He is dead," cried several voices. "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here threw himself down with his face to the pillow. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A highly," said Holmes. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. mystery!" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very orange pips. see me here to avoid scandal." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "It is his hat." at my own good fortune. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that absorbing." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" that there was nothing in it, after all." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the just called myself is not exactly my own." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "By no means." fuss that is made over them." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on Does that suggest anything?" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey page at http://pglaf.org difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a following enigmatical notices: only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." even so self-evident a thing as that." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting wife's character?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the little opening for the ventilator is." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate fled together." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" chance." highroad, where all traces were lost. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Not yet." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here charge against him will break down." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered wedding?" "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting in the hope of finding them." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I o'clock is it?" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was whatever might befall. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical into the bag, and made for the door. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "I guessed as much." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Was the window open?" key of the affair now." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. nonsense.' My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "My opinion is in no way altered." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship our word." remarked. "So it appears."