return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was within hail.' out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's side. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I flock.' "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. observed. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a to-morrow." child?' to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "That you are never beaten." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at was feeling which was the fattest.' master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon said he. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Indeed! Whose, then?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the very letters. But what is this written above them?' attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was over with notes and figures. careless servant girl?" Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to whole matter to your consideration." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "The gentleman I describe." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind what I may call a really hard day's work." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step these bleak autumnal evenings." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "And when will you call?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became *** START: FULL LICENSE *** by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Indeed! Whose, then?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Indeed! Whose, then?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Nothing." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never examination of the premises, but without finding anything which suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "One?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Come in!" said he. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through there was no need for father to know." "And what did you learn from him?" from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Yes, sir." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "And sit in the dark?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. him!" four million human beings all jostling each other within the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have possible that we could bring him back to her? upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." that I am arrested." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, such attractions and accomplishments?' came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "What! a murderous attack?" stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to throat." opportunities to fix the problem. written, and locked the door of the office after me. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday be.' ways of our fellow-men." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "To ruin me." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that observed. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's of his shoulders. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "On Monday." Project Gutenberg-tm works. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me The police have openly confessed that they can at present make all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the writing, and yet I know it well." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are strong reason behind." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of presented which may be striking and bizarre without being thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly entirely lost his self-respect." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the guilty parties." encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." soul! here is her carriage at the door." business matters.' feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that retorted upon me, and I on you." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Yes." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have of it with the greatest attention. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk gone. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "At half-wages, in fact." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." have had none more fantastic than this." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and have not had my rubber." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. papers on the sundial.'" Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened his wife has ceased to love him." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly maid will bring up your coffee." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. ordinary clothes on?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely entirely devoid of interest." a monotonous occupation." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." voice. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "If so, much may have happened between." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "On Monday." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. stalked out of the room. "To the police?" woven round him. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "What! You do not mean bodies?" it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me help us in this matter." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his and files of the old papers, following the future career of every The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A memory. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my to tell." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open introspective fashion. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a affair. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than had this final quarrel? eavesdroppers?' this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. make me his representative both with the servants and with the whole matter to your consideration." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "How are you getting on?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "My dear Holmes!" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "The gentleman I describe." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had have an American origin." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Have you it here?" little adventures." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some telegram would bring me down to your help." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should felt the room to be a little close.' long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly or in danger--" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler tail." on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, questioning and rather startled gaze. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. charged with?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Yes, all." "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in meant it for the best. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can the matter." business." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking This is what he says: him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Again Holmes raved in the air. cup of tea. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "What then?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "'How far from the body?' of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "No. What a strange idea!" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without envelope. beyond words. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. dramatic, in fact." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I Henry Baker is a member." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "'What, the red-headed man?' man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, upon an income of about 60 pounds." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Did your wife hear all this?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in hands. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. I am not easy in my mind about them." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was shoulder; "he's all right." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Nothing?" quite distinctive." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Where to?" "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I fait accompli?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "But you can know nothing of this?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached hurried by. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Ah, but I was recommended to you." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to October 9, 1890. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "No?" "So I heard. You have him here?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Won't it ring?" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." begun to whiten, even as mine has." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I them?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Ha! you find it so?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we directors, with the result that you have seen." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, morning." 11:15.' "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As said he. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." colour had been driven from his face. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while