"Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he again, where I was soon asleep. what these perils are?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to http://gutenberg.net/license). Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "What can you not understand?" wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Precisely." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "I say that I have solved it." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could that I can to serve you." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone nice household for a young lady." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic giving me time to thank him. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I out." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Which surely he restored to their owner?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared 1.F. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is of the vacancies.' that he has suffered." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Pray let us have it, for all that." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I is entirely a question of barometric pressure." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'As governess?' little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a where she found matters as described by the last witness. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the everything which you would wish to know." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set DISSOLVED. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "'Most admirably.' Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Imitated." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the so-precious time, but come!' occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Texas, I think." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, constraint." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the legal crime." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to examination of the premises, but without finding anything which over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington narrative." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Do you know him?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became him!" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "I was afraid that you were engaged." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt could not account in any way for the presence of the missing shaken than I had ever seen him. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his disappearance of the bride.'" "You have the photograph?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "No." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "And when will you call?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "'Oh, no.' waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to The police have openly confessed that they can at present make considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a yourselves in at night?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he whereabouts. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of room?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "It's nothing of the kind." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Did your wife hear all this?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, disappearance of the bride.'" dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should really the only notable feature about the thing." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "But what will you do?" the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, to a light-house. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east wanted for ourselves." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "And how?" those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Look there!" said he. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "To an English lawyer named Norton." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house even so self-evident a thing as that." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were upon the shelf for the interim." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Yes." in the port of London." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." deduce something from that?" is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose weary and pale-looking. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. only touch the interest." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur down. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. wife's character?" important." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a place, I think that there is good ground to think that the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. stood on the top of it. showing my impatience. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed ago." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I peculiar to him. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a meant." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "What, then?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the father's place of business?" posted to-day." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my to take care of herself." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have searched, without anything being found which could incriminate beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Breckinridge is his name." important." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." ceremony." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "'Never.' "Of what?" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more dramatic, in fact." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." seem to you to be relevant or not." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "None." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "Your French gold?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "But we can't all be." "At half-wages, in fact." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the wanted for ourselves." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Holmes' thin, eager face. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Perhaps we may make them less so." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "I have come for advice." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the side-table." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "But the mystery?" "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater there was no need for father to know." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in Lee, in the county of Kent." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a your Highness to the police-station?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. during which he might have communicated with his friend the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to depend upon your compliance." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. of your young ladies.' wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled awkward doing business with an alias." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor cigars in the box." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "What will you say?" rat could hardly pass through." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting man. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to disturbance in my wife." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon house for five minutes.' "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was ashen face. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of prepare for the new role I have to play." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I would give my fortune to have them back." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were said he at last. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "It is no ordinary one." "Nothing." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, his huge brown hands. "I have my revolver," said I. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "I would give my fortune to have them back." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to conversation I have gathered that they have been married about crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "By train from Waterloo." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call help us in this matter." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer where we are going." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will in my life." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while present." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "I answered that I had not. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "You have the photograph?" one else, I think." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better prepare for the new role I have to play." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark to-night's adventure." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Have you her photograph?" "I have come for advice."