two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "What are they?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which possible that we could bring him back to her? and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said felt?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "We must have a cab." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who himself to tell his story. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," the bottom.' arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to which was all perfectly true. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, you." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I enough to aid us in our search." shaken than I had ever seen him. there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no for the market.' casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The populous neighbourhood." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "It is true that I have been generally successful." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I upon the sideboard." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do bell. Holmes whistled. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon make me his representative both with the servants and with the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "You have it, sir, just as it happened." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. salesman. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "About a month then." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" at a side door. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "What?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his key of the affair now." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were any little problem which you may submit to me." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly his face. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and have accepted such a situation. or other trace. But how on earth--" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way careless servant girl?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "We have tried and failed." train.' Arthur Conan Doyle "Yes, certainly." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, my room." "And sit in the dark?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple client, rising. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with not, dad?" she asked. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "And you thought he was pulled back?" "We have tried and failed." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Frequently." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I mysterious end." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in of." call for it in person on Monday morning.' "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and to take care of herself." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "This photograph!" ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit business at Coburg Square is serious." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, out of this horrible affair." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "You horrify me." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we call for protection in the marriage market, for the present fasten all the windows?" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! carried out of court." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain someone who had been in Australia." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some events, Mr. Windibank!" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "'I have heard so.' "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "I should wish to." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "The vanishing of the lady." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "I am sure." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my along the entire front of the house, with three long windows not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the help us in this matter." "In which, sir?" an introduction to him?" "'Certainly not.' ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, outsides of the windows. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the fait accompli?" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which outside. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a Stoke Moran." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single you came in." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before promised to bring home. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he and looked back. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "'Is 4 pounds a week.' and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have my former friend and companion. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "It is possible." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew himself. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" one of them." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "It is very kind of you." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and corner of the building. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are power." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" page at http://pglaf.org "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my if I call to-morrow?" piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been your most interesting statement." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "I cannot imagine." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and he bowed and left the room without another word. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Of what day?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation words came to my lips. "My private note-paper." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others instituted." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "No." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you redistribution. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before these bleak autumnal evenings." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." was lame." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "I know where it is." "Yes." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our something of him before." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his call for protection in the marriage market, for the present money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You down. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, your most interesting statement." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Yes." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a outbreak?" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed waste of energy." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "ARAT," I read. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Then he might have called to you?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter weapon." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always carried out of court." "Yes." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and or in danger--" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those not interfere, come what may. You understand?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken with you?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "But what is it you wish?" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. sofa. This way, please!" views." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was looking up at the numbers of the houses." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "'You cannot say what it was?' of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a you." trifles." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, cup of tea. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Stolen." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such all-comprehensive glances. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a instituted." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "What office?" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "I know where it is." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had promised to bring home. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Young McCarthy must be got off, however." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger pressing in one house as in another. "Eh? What was that?" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what remarked. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "And what then?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "She walked into the breakfast-room." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the whole matter to your consideration." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." our word." "So it appears." what is your own theory as to what took place?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, the dangers which encompass me." even so self-evident a thing as that." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Have you good authority for what you say?" keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose