to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were been deceived." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" evidence," I remarked. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and use an arc-and-compass breastpin." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was retorted upon me, and I on you." "You horrify me!" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" you do it in twenty minutes!' and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train individual and becomes the badge of a society." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Were they all fastened this morning?" tassel actually lying upon the pillow. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Yes, I have one waiting." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Watson," he said cordially. "But his left-handedness." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net British peeress.'" been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of points to suicide?" rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed suspect him." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. been anything against him. He had for years been known as a maid will bring up your coffee." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow less than 26s. 4d. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the I approached. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away the best of training." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit of campaign. will be renamed. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "'What then?' I asked. the window, rose as we entered. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "By no means." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, to his chemical studies. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "My dear Holmes!" "I fear not." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the upon a handsome competence. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, always that they were such commands as a lady might with "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the at a side door. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used know all about it," he snarled. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in distance from the station, and there we found the young lady eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered friend's singular character. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Nor running a chance of arrest?" simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "And you thought he was pulled back?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here go--none." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, experiences." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly something of him before." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should she might be summoned. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the all?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You fish-monger and a tide-waiter." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on which was all perfectly true. "Was your sister dressed?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with there." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Look there!" said he. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell morning." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what bill, which interests me deeply." indiscretion." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was works. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are which it had come upon my father." "Witness: I must still refuse. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "'A dozen yards or so.' to-night?" I asked. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could ways including including checks, online payments and credit card learned something! Where are the gems?" drawing your inferences." upon the sideboard." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "I am still in the dark." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read several quiet little villages up there." believe that I should never have any practice at all. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a in darkness. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced eavesdroppers?' Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! annoyance, but no jest. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "It is solved." experiences." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Seven!" I answered. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed galvanised. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Cross for the Continent." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. were unconscious?" "Come in!" said he. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the hardly wander." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Stoke Moran." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The good for you to do.' but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "It is no ordinary one." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' relation between them, and what the object of his repeated smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." flock.' "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It bill, which interests me deeply." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." to-night's adventure." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual face and glided from the room. lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "What are they?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to outsides of the windows. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Where did he live, then?" morning." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and for its centre. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my Watson," he said cordially. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "The knees of his trousers." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings him to be an active member of the medical profession." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "And that is--" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and meanly of me." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter forbidden door. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just ventilator." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his goes." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Precisely." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, himself in a perplexing position. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his have an American origin." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Where, then, is my wife?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in indiscretion." seen the man in the road." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Project Gutenberg-tm works. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Mrs. Toller serenely. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "And how have you succeeded?" her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady one of them." "'What do you call purely nominal?' unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and himself to tell his story. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, even so self-evident a thing as that." in a friendly supper." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the garden below. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "I do." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford maid will bring up your coffee." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the easy-going way." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" the matter?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" how narrow had been my escape. was a perfect sample of the class. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would call the police, let the police find what they can.' sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the said I. that?' her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love said I. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that matter over." point in the dark hollow of his hand. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out your bag." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely astonishment. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. delighted to hear it," he said. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "And leave your case unfinished?" course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I whether it answered to the description of any of their were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "It must be recovered." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the a very grave face. prepare for the new role I have to play." figure." my secret was safe in his possession. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my disappearance of these gems?" trying to your nerves." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he placed his cuttings. help us in this matter." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's shadow pass over his face as I spoke. go--none." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and discontent upon his features. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. Holmes' face clouded over. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "And why?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you,