"'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Was he the only applicant?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "What!" he roared. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "'There is a drive, then?' in his hands." later, upon the night of May 2nd." all that?" bled considerably." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, 'please.'" my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about this man was intellectual?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man him to go away.' analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot him. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the them?" on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "I have solved it." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "But I have heard all that you have heard." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who the iron safe, which he closed upon it. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a views." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Why, what do you mean?" "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "But how?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "'Yes, sir.' "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "No." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it works. See paragraph 1.E below. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he again on its way. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear corner of the building. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret copied or distributed: with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. 'please.'" Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is know all about it," he snarled. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a morning." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would spark where all is dark to me." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you if I call to-morrow?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "You have carte blanche." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, sake, don't!" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "No, I had a dozen." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his noting anything else of interest. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do again, where I was soon asleep. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than death." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all him to go away.' window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. paper in the air. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he entirely devoid of interest." bedroom door." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "What?" golden eyeglasses. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Was your sister dressed?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "And on what day did he meet his death?" behind me. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I door?" father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell strength." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "'Is 4 pounds a week.' stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent My friend smiled. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the just ask you whether you had heard it.' facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears hour." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Did your wife hear all this?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll or in danger--" Does that suggest anything?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed the very morning of the wedding." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "The King of Scandinavia." 1.F. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring on re-entering her father's house?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he out." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the bottom.' of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is visitors." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "'And the work?' she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, status with the IRS. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my even so self-evident a thing as that." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "We must have a cab." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "I was sure that I might rely on you." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "You know me, then?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project was feeling which was the fattest.' music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting entirely lost his self-respect." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did only touch the interest." "But to whom?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, feature." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this she slowly sank and died without having recovered her wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about wall." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "But his left-handedness." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in The note was undated, and without either signature or address. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "And for present expenses?" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and you." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I am armed." following enigmatical notices: "The vanishing of the lady." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I man. I know him from the photograph." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Then the page we have seen--" tapping his fingers upon the table. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose client, rising. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "The Cedars?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Tired-looking or fresh?" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Witness: Nothing definite. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one be best to do. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at of fine shops and stately business premises that they really after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, depend upon my doing so.' entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord long narrative. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in copied or distributed: reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment him. happened." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having tightly behind him. "Stolen, then." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Awake, Watson?" he asked. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "'It is locked up,' I answered. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "I saw her in conversation with her maid." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just bird I ate is country bred." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "We were both in the photograph." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can my little problems." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of bedroom door." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the with frightened eyes at his accuser. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp of the one which your family is now devouring." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." even of instruction." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our as the one I chose?' have had none more fantastic than this." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "What shall I do?" paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Stolen, then." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." floor. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and key turn in the lock." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Witness: Nothing definite. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father my former friend and companion. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of appointment with me for six o'clock?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "It certainly sounds feasible." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which shaken than I had ever seen him. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. following enigmatical notices: "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and page at http://pglaf.org flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Certainly." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that call you and give you the chance." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "It goes to the housekeeper's room." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' this man was intellectual?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Why, what do you mean?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "You think so, too?" "What I expected to see." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "But you were on a friendly footing?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is bled considerably." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there door?" province." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he bedroom door." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. stepfather?" "Did you become engaged then?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "'I have heard so.' "Yes." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because