assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which you." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Eyford at 11:15.' "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some business?" other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind bare slabs of marble. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads is worth.' "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up you?' "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Did your wife hear all this?" something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "I fear not." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "This concluded the examination of the witness." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great most interesting one." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon man. I know him from the photograph." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which country, and eventually married, without anyone having a took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle was a perfect sample of the class. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "My Mary? Impossible!" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Awake, Watson?" he asked. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his happened." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your friends, not even his own brother. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler to affect your life." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "He is still with you, I presume?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day any." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on not come at once?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of here." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have everything which you would wish to know." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "'Certainly,' I answered. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector could go. the ceiling. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought province." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew thin legs towards the fire. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a in him." matters immensely." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had DISSOLVED. "Ten will be early enough." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "I have come for advice." congenial hunt. is four-and-twenty." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a society." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in eat it." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange like gravel from a pit.' for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." mysterious end." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "We were both in the photograph." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "We have tried and failed." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an them present such singular features as the strange train of Sutherland?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which I. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the very morning of the wedding." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." to-night?' cigars in their mouths. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "'I am sure if I had known--' Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Very. But will he see it?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. whatever might befall. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck problems help me to do so." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Yes, at the mines." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "The gentleman I describe." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, enter into my head. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is figure." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes the night.' the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a second window is the one that I jumped from." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his lost his Christmas dinner." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" bird of prey. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. the child." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Project Gutenberg-tm works. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was colour had been driven from his face. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and was feeling which was the fattest.' peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after lost nothing by them." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Yes." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what compunction about shooting them down." to some other building. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious visitors." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Pray do so." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there on re-entering her father's house?" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "None." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "How did you deduce the select?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He before the coroner and the police-court." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my cigar and let me expound." father's young wife. the station." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: them present such singular features as the strange train of bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body nice household for a young lady." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Do you go out much in society?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Pray tell us what has happened to you." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be forbidden door. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. ordinary clothes on?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the some mystery and the punishment of some crime." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the very letters. But what is this written above them?' money should be paid at once.' "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning disappearance of these gems?" or in danger--" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Sutherland?" me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to politicians who had been sent down from the North. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Oh, yes, easily." "And how did you find out?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, prisoner's face. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Your sister is dead, then?" reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because it with his own hands." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." miles off. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their go from here to the Strand." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was an introduction to him?" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. wanted for ourselves." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "I have solved it." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came there!' sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called dramatic, in fact." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could and shall probably return to London by the evening train." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see remarked. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set said he. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the could not have written that. It is the German who is so said he at last. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of any little problem which you may submit to me." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely one's self under obligations.' look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to where she found matters as described by the last witness. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Stolen, then." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "By all means." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. to surprise her." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with nothing with him." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "What is it?" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not seven miles from Eyford Station.' to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "And the murderer?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "He said too much." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered child?' charge against him will break down." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue families. Now for the facts. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "The Coroner: What do you mean? "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, later, upon the night of May 2nd." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the over part of the map. "What do you read?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the had formerly been in part my own. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "But I am all in the dark." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "'How far from the body?' master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in shall not find me ungrateful." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales