success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, window when the police appeared." "'Never.' delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his tension within him. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "How are you getting on?" "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "An accident, I presume?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who was not a bird to be seen there. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." on re-entering her father's house?" "How often?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, had formerly been in part my own. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Countess of Morcar's?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from an introduction to him?" whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had strength of mind to control. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Then you may entirely rely on me." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Pray continue your narrative." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy to have been novel and of interest." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have unprofitable." hereditary King of Bohemia." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his in this way: to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the to arrive at through this?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "But your client--" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Surrey." "Tired-looking or fresh?" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told depend upon my doing so.' there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "The rest you will leave in our hands." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Now, then, what's the last entry?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Holmes' room. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your ordinary clothes on?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "But he might be a bachelor." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "I have come for advice." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Not him." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and past. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I recover the gem." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "My stepfather's business papers." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped in the port of London." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present wanted for ourselves." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from bled considerably." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he back to my heart. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital definite end. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend fait accompli?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in into the bag, and made for the door. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Thank you. Pray proceed." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "By no means." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "'Where to?' wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. mysterious business." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his plantation.' "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my the address that was given us in the advertisement. crackling voice. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Yesterday." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. legal crime." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the house with me." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "The King of Scandinavia." have accepted such a situation. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than papers." and put his glass in his pocket. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, very peculiar words of the dying woman?" cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" posted to-day." despaired of." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce call for it in person on Monday morning.' to-night." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "What! You do not mean bodies?" disappearance of the bride.'" a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were cup of tea. would apply.' "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" cost them two and thirty pounds." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and galvanised. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Yes." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "But how?" "I see many objections to any such theory." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "But we can't all be." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "On Monday." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured seem to you to be relevant or not." is now desirous of getting those letters back." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." shoulder; "he's all right." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I have my revolver," said I. colour had been driven from his face. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the devil!" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "And how did he make his money?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Certainly." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the bed, and you in that chair." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the strode off upon his way. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience matter." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Did your wife hear all this?" flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for in one or two places in England?' the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming there was no need for father to know." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the was a loud and authoritative tap. "Then how many are there?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be girl said." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "What shall I do?" with you alone." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'Where could I find him?' the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. foot. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab companion quietly. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be meant." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was charge against him will break down." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the and the whole place is in a blaze." Sutherland?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his down. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of this remarkable episode. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "No, thank goodness, she did not." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "How often?" indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have is now desirous of getting those letters back." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had you in your example." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the be best to do. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "How many? I don't know." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Very truly yours, family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a to-night's adventure." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." to me. and all of them with the keenest interest. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young nice household for a young lady." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "I shall most certainly do so." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "No sign of it?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son I approached. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an or in danger--" "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after maid will bring up your coffee." union?" I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Did you observe the colour?" "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Nearly eleven." pound a week." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "What! You do not mean bodies?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Was she in good spirits?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father best detective that ever lived. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg