first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from call it cruel." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine points to suicide?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever four million human beings all jostling each other within the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was said I. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "It is a murder, then?" instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our lamp in his hand. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' his face. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the my secret was safe in his possession. he bowed and left the room without another word. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily Again Holmes raved in the air. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not purpose of examination. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not hour?' long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in me what he had done with the three missing stones. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own the driver. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The joking. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Yes, from Horsham." "So I am. Very much so." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, there in twenty minutes." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature detective. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." with the outside air!" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside leave you to your papers for a little." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll should be so warm over such a trifle." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no out." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been easy-going way." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Mary, has deserted me." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect salesman. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique again." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might note?" my room." highly," said Holmes. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, new duties?' even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "So I have heard." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and bore every mark of being an average commonplace British every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings closely." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "'No, I know no one in these parts.' come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "You think that he is dead?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the King without delay." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently been lifted and conveyed somewhere." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. chance at all." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we certainly do as you advise." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I a few minutes he said that it would be all right. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" least a most suspicious remark." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "You have but to name it." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the the room while you explain this matter?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster forecastle of an emigrant ship. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for said he. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I The police have openly confessed that they can at present make change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "I cannot say that I have." think that any burglar could have done. was it brought him the coronet? status with the IRS. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "None." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Then I shall certainly come." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "The King of Scandinavia." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less you in yours." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "And how did you find out?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "What! You do not mean bodies?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the at home. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. may never be exposed to such a temptation." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "We must sit without light. He would see it through the great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would cause to be." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I fear not." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his even so self-evident a thing as that." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old have I gained?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the get her out of the way." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account to that open window." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence hurried by. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "'Certainly not.' Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Holmes' room. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. must be when I saw the door open.' you do it in twenty minutes!' effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "'About the same.' "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "But you were on a friendly footing?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "That is it on the dressing-table." are windows in it, of course?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil unclasping of his long thin hands. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of official police." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" over his head with a sweet womanly caress. see a sister of mine apply for." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Yes, I have one waiting." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Yes, they were peculiar boots." front of me. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "No, I am descending." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who will take you up to see the machine.' colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me were unconscious?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and directors, with the result that you have seen." became a certainty. matters immensely." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, Mary, has deserted me." "'Where to?' cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Your sister is dead, then?" well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was them?" impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind of this gang." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "My stepfather's business papers." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, mystery!" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that woman who has had her own way to make in the world. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this to-night?' married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "One of his hands." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with beyond words. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "I cannot imagine." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as of receipt of the work. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was Watson," he said cordially. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic was once confined in the cab my mission was practically fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "How did you deduce the select?" you, my dear young lady?' about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the morning." "And why?" cigars in their mouths. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so breakfast." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to