shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the salesman. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Pray do so." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "And sit in the dark?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, to some other building. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might respectable self." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat the very morning of the wedding." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening writing, and yet I know it well." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "But to whom?" companion. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to giving me time to thank him. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Oh, fresh and glossy." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" his eyes and forehead. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of quickly through a disagreeable task. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round IS envelope. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in train.' feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. when your master had gone out." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Deserted you?" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "And you thought he was pulled back?" know all about it," he snarled. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." allusion to a rat. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for strong reason behind." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune said I. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. anything to do with the matter?" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to might have a private word with us. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Yes." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in cost them two and thirty pounds." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure in darkness. spark where all is dark to me." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "How often?" present." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Why did you pick him?" status with the IRS. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "VIOLET HUNTER." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and John Swain, of St. Augustine. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," you, my dear young lady?' o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a could gather together that I was able to avert another public morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the whereabouts. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "What are they?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I beg that you will break it off." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, do.' it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you laugh and put his lips to my ear. your most interesting statement." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of national property. I was determined that the law should have its "I was sure that I might rely on you." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had lumber-room." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'Tell me all about it,' said I. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked lamp in his hand. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Perhaps I have." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "No legal papers or certificates?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "There is the writing." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "'Yes.' there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Get out!" said he. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Precisely." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Married! When?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss fishes. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Witness: I must still refuse. "Upon what point?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a already been minutely examined." showing my impatience. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke business?" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "Yes." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two security.' seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the nice household for a young lady." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and lids now and glanced across at his visitor. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no crackling voice. his knees, staring into the fire. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "I have a cab outside." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. and a shock of very red hair. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. your bag." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the nursery. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a hereditary King of Bohemia." "No good news?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "But who is he?" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was at my own good fortune. as this. Pray let me have the details." least a fellow-countryman. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. know that the truth is known." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We I am not easy in my mind about them." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. his forehead." hour." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern in darkness. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from man. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in side. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. the coronet in his hands?" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our horse could go." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "My photograph." "You are all wrong." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." already been minutely examined." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This here." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each you?' rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at little adventures." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and papers on the sundial.'" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "And did you observe any change in her then?" "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried bill, which interests me deeply." see a sister of mine apply for." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. as the one I chose?' heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper this unhappy family?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah retorted upon me, and I on you." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Have you it here?" "What! a murderous attack?" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. his grey eyes. again." "Nothing?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Yes, I have one waiting." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Yes." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is shoulder; "he's all right." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we just called myself is not exactly my own." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window Pool. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I cannot imagine." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this as yours." "It is a murder, then?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me formed some opinion?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Then what has happened to him?" from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I to go into your room and bar your shutters?" a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "You don't mind breaking the law?" remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must you in yours." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. ashen face. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" and files of the old papers, following the future career of every left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only at once, for I have only half an hour." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Yes, the wine-cellar." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "But to whom?" Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from strong reason behind." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other you in yours." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his sit on the left-hand side of the driver." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' to you." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to details should find their way into the papers. Inspector but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had James Windibank. Voilà tout!" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the of the vacancies.' when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful about. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King he bowed and left the room without another word. "Eh? What was that?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I gone. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Then you may entirely rely on me." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of locked." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to not within a twentieth part of the market price." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, yet." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Never." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "My opinion is in no way altered." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement.