"I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are stood on the top of it. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened me." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was whereabouts. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. pictures, libraries, or plate. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "When did she vanish, then?" Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. the salesman. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "By no means." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "I would pay ten." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Were they all fastened this morning?" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Why? What do you mean?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually photograph?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled make me his representative both with the servants and with the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' happened." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. allusion to a rat. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Ha! you find it so?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. will he say when he returns?" the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home observed. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Where, then, is my wife?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "BALLARAT." "An enemy?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "How did you deduce the select?" the loss of it. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "I don't say that. Perhaps." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Yes." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. little adventures." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "No, my brougham is waiting." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of and looked back. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know directly by questioning you." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am sake, don't!" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your was already answered. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. one else, I think." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" touch that coronet?' however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Have you it here?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." said he at last. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that lost his Christmas dinner." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of infinite languor in his face. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but to talk it over. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander second." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which country, and eventually married, without anyone having a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Here?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "At the wedding breakfast." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Come in!" said Holmes. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made was a perfect sample of the class. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable any more." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away tell me that you intended to go into harness." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "No, my brougham is waiting." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Here?" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Well, some hundreds of times." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which visitors." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her people in all walks of life. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an cigars in their mouths. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." acquaintance?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Yes." existence." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and prepare for the new role I have to play." gbnewby@pglaf.org clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "But you would not advise me to refuse?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "You have compromised yourself seriously." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' been shamefully used." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous her also." the tragedy. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I future lives." said I. been with you?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Watson," he said cordially. window when the police appeared." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of I shall continue with my miserable story. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy speckled band?" great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far was lame." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you heavily into it. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "A confidential servant?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that indeed happy." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith spark where all is dark to me." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "'Yes.' are, and they are waiting for us." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Where did you address your letters, then?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of such person." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building bore every mark of being an average commonplace British hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the me. You must get home instantly and act." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a ran thus: knowledge of the world." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need so far?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will closely." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Witness: Nothing definite. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it But Holmes shook his head gravely. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill burst out into a roar of laughter. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "And it is--" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been her also." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I if I call to-morrow?" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second and laid it on the table. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "You have it, sir, just as it happened." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded that I am arrested." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera of them has the shutters up.' A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part to-night." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew that I may have something better before very many minutes are "What then?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in said he at last. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "And I say east," said my patient. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop of receipt of the work. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the as yours." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have the very morning of the wedding." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." just called myself is not exactly my own." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Did your wife hear all this?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he in. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, washing it down with a long draught of water. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I answered that I had not. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those stepfather?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, see a sister of mine apply for." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** was a perfect sample of the class. for the market.' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella sake, don't!" me." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I was certainly surprised to find you there." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a dates and names. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police crime. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort entirely lost his self-respect." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again call it cruel." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "But his left-handedness." fat-encircled eyes. system of imprisonment?" do." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who little adventures." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his enter Dr. Roylott's room." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Literary Archive Foundation as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. tied." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Has he come with you to-night?" sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found maid will bring up your coffee." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, presume?" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean upon an income of about 60 pounds." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help flock.' heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their it. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now never will be, entirely cleared up. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight she might be summoned. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away as noiselessly as she had come. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources your own bird, so if you wish--" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Holmes' room. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the where we are going." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Then I shall certainly come."