"And why?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' here and I will read it to you: why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a woman." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which had no one to advise her at such a crisis." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler know what is wrong with it.' The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." writing, and yet I know it well." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can to-night?" I asked. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to Holmes' room. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar jewels which you have stolen?' Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are future lives." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office shall not find me ungrateful." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. Arthur Conan Doyle having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. father's young wife. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped address. cup of tea. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my observed. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that was keenly on my guard against him. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "But how could you guess what the motive was?" step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the sofa. This way, please!" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It mystery may be cleared along those lines." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a delirious. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the brain must have something in it." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is society." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could least a most suspicious remark." deduce something from that?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental troubles have been weighing upon his mind. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked key of the affair now." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. to-morrow." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has certainly not very gracious." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or once more to my work. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I This is what he says: were wasted." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I window when the police appeared." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "And Irene Adler?" carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I colonel looking down at me. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day the salesman. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint true." awkward doing business with an alias." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than our word." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body residence of the great financier. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Oh, fresh and glossy." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "We must have a cab." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "What then?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the Stoke Moran." your Highness to the police-station?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in and the whole place is in a blaze." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Chief Executive and Director "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "On Monday." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "The vanishing of the lady." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "9th. McCauley cleared. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years intimate personal affairs in this public manner." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and congratulate you again." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Yes, that is the Crown." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose like gravel from a pit.' "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Why serious?" trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "ARAT," I read. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and questioning and rather startled gaze. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each do.' "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "I have seen the police." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his one or two very singular points about this room. For example, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was breakfast." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'I shall certainly be there.' "One horse?" interjected Holmes. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady round and wave him away like that.' "I will, Miss Turner." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled call it cruel." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make despaired of." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern you understand?" it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "But it has twice been burgled." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I The telegram which we eventually received came late one night devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the lost nothing by them." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less begun to whiten, even as mine has." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Certainly." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Certainly." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a character. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm advice." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for thin legs towards the fire. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "It is solved." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the me." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its chance at all." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "I will try. What is it?" from you?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and and shall probably return to London by the evening train." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "You are certainly joking, Holmes." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to breakfast and whispered something to her husband. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in she used." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure he died? "Perhaps I have." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "Breckinridge is his name." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a not, dad?" she asked. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Clair, of Lee." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve he. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Where, then?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Lee, in the county of Kent." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I his huge brown hands. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I should be immensely obliged to you." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. me where it went to?" here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "I have my revolver," said I. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. populous neighbourhood." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to as he remarks, very much against the son." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Bought." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to telegram would bring me down to your help." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Precisely." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "My dear Holmes!" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "'Which dealer's?' He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At here and I will read it to you: there was no need for father to know." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to go from here to the Strand." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote with you alone." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of it? Did I buy the geese off you?" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, again before evening." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that letters?" "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. may have an influence upon European history." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "By no means." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a what do you think they found in the pockets?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "No legal papers or certificates?" Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from too. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Seven!" I answered. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much I leave." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "And what then?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. detained."