since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his eyes and forehead. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which fire. You quite follow me?" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "You have a clue?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom criminal. We have already had experience of such." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., and glanced through. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing me. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, guilty parties." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "But not more so than I to find you." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker examine." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." asked. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "And how in the world did you find them?" "Absolutely none." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion breakfast and whispered something to her husband. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then are, I think, all that we need." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic strong reason behind." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Lestrade of Scotland Yard." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "I fear not." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "I never have." you understand?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. nonsense.' to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Then I can wait in the next room." forecastle of an emigrant ship. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of crowd. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round unprofitable." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you my secret was safe in his possession. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some and the church but not where the lady lived." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? people don't know." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Certainly." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you daring than any effort of the imagination." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Count Von Kramm." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding of." "It surprised me." that there was nothing in it, after all." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. you." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have a suggestive one." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "None." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go been deceived." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having James Windibank. Voilà tout!" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' never will be, entirely cleared up. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an investigation." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little in a friendly supper." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in of the way of danger. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' to surprise her." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that again before evening." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "And the murderer?" "Won't it ring?" 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing call it cruel." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Was he the only applicant?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I highly," said Holmes. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any narrative." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary man. I know him from the photograph." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "It is possible." at my own good fortune. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "One?" VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND examination of the premises, but without finding anything which to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but not fit the lock." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were humiliation." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, derbies." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "'It is locked up,' I answered. village inn over there?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "To ruin me." "When did she vanish, then?" father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the leave you to your papers for a little." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "And I." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would outside. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "How did he come?" "Won't it ring?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end himself to tell his story. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the into the room. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "What! Had he lost his wife?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. annoyance, but no jest. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary bled considerably." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, sufficient punishment." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an showing my impatience. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "On your arm?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Thank you. Pray proceed." Street. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a of them has the shutters up.' have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and that threaten you." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Nothing?" "That is unusual in a young girl." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "From his hat?" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the coronet at all injured?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was one of the states of the Union." "Well, some hundreds of times." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink McCarthy's innocence. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should was a perfect sample of the class. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off enter Dr. Roylott's room." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, had formerly been in part my own. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." me what he had done with the three missing stones. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered sake, don't!" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She 'please.'" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was death." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "None." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never bearing upon the case." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "That is possible." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Lee, in the county of Kent." bearing upon the case." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "What! You do not mean bodies?" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the which are rolled in Rotterdam." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. one of the states of the Union." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "How about poison?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again been with you?" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Could he throw no light?" off." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, walking." quickly through a disagreeable task. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his morning." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's drawing your inferences." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Certainly." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, opportunities to fix the problem. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "'Most admirably.' "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the clang of the bell. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am you." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but trifles." dates and names. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give to where he stood hid behind the curtain. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "You have but to name it." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a in a friendly supper." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether could go. deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "The Cedars?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had forecastle of an emigrant ship. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she in one or two places in England?' it." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That second." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "What have you to say now?" "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "'As governess?' to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was have I gained?"