The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. views." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was back to my heart. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their sparkled upon his finger. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I all that?" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property woven round him. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of evidence," I remarked. murdered man." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "But how?" client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Not him." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Perhaps we may make them less so." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, and have this put in the evening papers." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "'Ample.' analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the of your young ladies.' wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the better grown goose." "It's nothing of the kind." over with notes and figures. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "But you have hopes?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in at a side door. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Henry Baker is a member." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "And now?" I asked. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Eyford." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Who was the criminal, then?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Tired-looking or fresh?" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door murdered man." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Dirty?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door was it brought him the coronet? "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, residence of the great financier. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "To ruin me." I held the little printed slip to the light. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Come in!" said Holmes. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a go--none." sneer upon his pale face. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the roots. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "But I am all in the dark." "Well, it is a possible supposition." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Where did he live, then?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up Pool. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or death." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off locked. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the warnings." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Then I am your man." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" Lee, in the county of Kent." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days mystery may be cleared along those lines." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the interested in these little problems, and since you are good locked. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Stolen, then." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "I would give my fortune to have them back." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers the devil!" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San delighted to hear it," he said. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden get her out of the way." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even bearing upon the case." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "So I am. Very much so." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and round and wave him away like that.' the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these gentleman's clothes. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "I saw her in conversation with her maid." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so to-night?' me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. acted in my house last night?" hand, madam?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." both be extremely obliged.' previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to bedroom door." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Nothing." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "I assure you that I am in your hands." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided morning." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt copied or distributed: upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "You were travelling in the States?" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I most important business. It is probable that he will be away all It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." to that open window." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Yes, only one." the nursery. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a name is different." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat case before our client came into the room." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "And from a noble client?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can residence of the great financier. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other the warnings." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into there when the Rucastles went away." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora but preventing her from injuring another. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "And on what day did he meet his death?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Yes, but only for you and me." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on wedding?" indeed happy." chance at all." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily affair. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment ceremony." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "And Irene Adler?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in placed his cuttings. dates and names. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "What I expected to see." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Precisely." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was south, for the country is more deserted there." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be done what I asked you, Jones?" watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "He might." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself characteristics, but those are the more obvious." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it copied or distributed: "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not of a light. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. this man was intellectual?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her the armchair which I pushed forward for him. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "It was." I approached. the side-table." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." death." "And Miss Sutherland?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "It is true that I have been generally successful." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened get the tickets." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Yes, that is the Crown." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open that I may have something better before very many minutes are the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you It may be so in this case, also." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Your French gold?" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was papers on the sundial.'" hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had morning." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was lips." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, bachelor.' mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been persecution?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a meanly of me." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I You want to know what became of those geese?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Yes." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "It came here." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." place no limit on the sum I may draw." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought forbidden door. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" most interesting one." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of name is different." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "None." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon III. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, the station." "Thank you. And your address?" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not back into the street. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon place of silver." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest situation." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper