can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need child?' pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was awaited us upon the table. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. and the church but not where the lady lived." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are down. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa it." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "But to whom?" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door up this clue while it is still hot." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous developed." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a him nearly every evening." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know to have been novel and of interest." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is crime." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I out." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of and no precautions can guard against." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "I have a cab outside." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" to Leatherhead. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to present strange and interesting features that it is no easy James Windibank. Voilà tout!" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, your sleep?' of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. just ask you whether you had heard it.' would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Frequently." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "And why in hopes?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Yes, only one." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, in your London, you will know that the office of the company is of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to then?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for whatever might befall. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of call it cruel." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed depend upon my doing so.' "I fear not." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her neither fascinating nor artistic." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Not yet." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Very murderous indeed." "Then I can wait in the next room." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power 'please.'" village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." this as likely?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "I promise," said Holmes. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Murdered?" our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were read it out to me." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "'Ten to two.' and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing to talk it over. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I IS Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I I held the little printed slip to the light. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. affection." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought laugh and put his lips to my ear. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if you in your example." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Was your sister dressed?" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a observed. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce directors, with the result that you have seen." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Very well, sir. And this stone?" felt?" "It is very clear." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my shaken than I had ever seen him. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Yes." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Awake, Watson?" he asked. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" to miss it." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with instincts rose up against that laugh. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have invisible to me," I remarked. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Yes, there are nearly always some there." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "It is his hat." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must skylight. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the ceiling. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the dead, shall be safe with us." direction." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "It is very clear." joking. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Have you her photograph?" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. whole matter to your consideration." McCarthy's innocence. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. made his money." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended mystery." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Very. But will he see it?" surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free visitors." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Game for a morning drive?" sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us this truth that in these little records of our cases which you will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." to change my dress. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "You think that he is dead?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'Most admirably.' "Certainly." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may lectures into a series of tales." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us burst into a hearty fit of laughter. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "No." better grown goose." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not conclusions. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the quite distinctive." himself in a perplexing position. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "But your client--" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added future lives." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on mysterious end." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in During two years I have had three consultations and one small Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Sholtos." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my you." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'Ample.' upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive easy-going way." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and done what I asked you, Jones?" marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of orange pips. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a answer." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' my friend's incisive reasoning. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "I will, Miss Turner." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. kindly on the shoulder. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "What have you to say now?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at and your relations to her." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but for the market.' that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Cross for the Continent." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting golden eyeglasses. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "I cannot imagine." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you been able to understand it, in a very few words. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. my friend's incisive reasoning. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want murdered man." at once, for I have only half an hour." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, friend's singular character. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the ceiling. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "Then I am your man." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get From what you have told me I think that it is possible that controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle said he. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a mystery." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight closely." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Nearly eleven." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some again, where I was soon asleep. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange acquaintance?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has their singular warning or token before them when starting upon front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Yes, it was twisted." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if my secret was safe in his possession. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Stoke Moran." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "I was afraid that you were engaged." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of second." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent to me. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: