"'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Then, how do you know?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "It goes to the housekeeper's room." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily or other trace. But how on earth--" "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the maiden herself was most instructive." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "I have my revolver," said I. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I or other trace. But how on earth--" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, hour." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "To ruin me." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves skylight. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "But how?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the there is a decided draught." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your good-night and bustled off upon her way. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "I fear not." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our to change my dress. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend assist you in forming an opinion." "That sounds a little paradoxical." "'Certainly not. But why?' exactly what you advise." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering during that time.' "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Very murderous indeed." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Precisely." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind written. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "It must be recovered." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, that the gas is not laid on in his house?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Yes, I have one waiting." "The murder was done with it." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: events, Mr. Windibank!" not within a twentieth part of the market price." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I yourselves in at night?" terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on formed some opinion?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Dirty?" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare quite distinctive." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He enough to aid us in our search." "I am following you closely," I answered. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried which are rolled in Rotterdam." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by to change my dress. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in to take care of herself." business in the City. She little knew what. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. results." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I don't believe it." "What will you say?" will not take me long to tell. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he returned to France?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Stolen." "What are they?" promised to bring home. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of you understand?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a it." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and chance." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very congenial hunt. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek upon the white wrist. bare slabs of marble. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and depend upon your compliance." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." to you." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of been shamefully used." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves was already answered. compunction about shooting them down." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "'Never,' said I. "It is very kind of you." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. letters?" until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "'And what salary do you ask?' "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Pope's Court, Fleet Street." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. trifles." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he really the only notable feature about the thing." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to unclasping of his long thin hands. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was to arrive at through this?" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his open." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in bore every mark of being an average commonplace British to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which approach us with offers to donate. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from when you have done it." business." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office are windows in it, of course?" imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to father's young wife. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the me upon any point which I do not make clear." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, You want to know what became of those geese?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he late!' "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in tightly behind him. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our them?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said The police have openly confessed that they can at present make my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Pray continue your narrative." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "None. Neville wrote those words." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "May I see it?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Not yet." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" not fit the lock." redistribution. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "And that is--" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a posted to-day." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "What can it mean?" I gasped. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "'Ample.' "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." other lovers by making love himself." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. walking." Lee, in the county of Kent." "'Never.' her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would eat it." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he wedding?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its were unconscious?" I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than husband's writing, madam." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most there were so many in the whole country as were brought together upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a door?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy conceal it?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you these bleak autumnal evenings." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached asked with his eyes open. you do it in twenty minutes!' any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "My private note-paper." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to she used." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "'And what salary do you ask?' side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the the so-precious time, but come!' either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable details should find their way into the papers. Inspector King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he way in everything. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "It is very clear." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' his face which made him a very different person to the round, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Ha! you find it so?" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'What are you doing there?' he asked. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or matters immensely." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "The doctor?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." light and attacked it." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round lids now and glanced across at his visitor. woven round him. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "But how will you look?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was one which it was hard to resist. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Yes." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in to a more successful conclusion." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "'What then?' I asked. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls me. "'Is purely nominal.' o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a heavily into it. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in late." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "If so, much may have happened between." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We followed. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of chemical work which was so dear to him. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "And you can do nothing until then?" until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. to-night?" I asked. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to American. Then who could this American be, and why should he who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. bearing upon the case." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Surrey." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to were wasted." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to written, and locked the door of the office after me. works. See paragraph 1.E below. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his are, I think, all that we need." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door.