found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed charge against him will break down." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I have a cab outside." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents likely to be some crony of the landlady's." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to it. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." events than those which have happened in my own family." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses said I. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe him!" forebodings. "I beg pardon." http://gutenberg.net/license). I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Not I." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "I have come for advice." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other with you alone." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but Holmes' face clouded over. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "And your mother is alive?" there." Doctor, of the paper and the date." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was way in." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some useful material for showing traces. The double line a little noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional guilty parties." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we them?" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. answer." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "It was." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Farm upon the left." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. himself. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I The telegram which we eventually received came late one night spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." leave you to your papers for a little." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Miss Holder?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "An enemy?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that dates and names. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled did not hear it also.' twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "And I say east," said my patient. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "'How far from the body?' of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in your troubles." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. clanging. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these way in." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a my little problems." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. back into the street. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Pool. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" presented which may be striking and bizarre without being very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and done what I asked you, Jones?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned some water from a caraffe. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight followed. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "And on what day did he meet his death?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul you?' "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "By no means." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the it." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed know that the truth is known." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever horse could go." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "An enemy?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, gentleman's clothes. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered made his money." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from overpowering excitement and concern. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Yes." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. if she died from some sudden fright." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." mystery!" colonel looking down at me. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Then how many are there?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is as this. Pray let me have the details." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "In San Francisco, a year ago." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever His name is Francis Prosper." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then someone who had been in Australia." "Just look it up, then." cigars in their mouths. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. confronted him. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "You have compromised yourself seriously." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off case-book, which he consulted. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' than to us. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless what is your own theory as to what took place?" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the until night should bring an explanation. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "His face fell immediately. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in of them has the shutters up.' estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a strong reason behind." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever that I am arrested." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Very much so." "He disappeared so suddenly." observed. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while quite distinctive." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "It surprised me." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the here." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger triumphant cloud from his cigarette. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." I approached. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a fat-encircled eyes. "Ha! you find it so?" noting anything else of interest. better in every way that they should make their position a little Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "And how?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Yes, he did." six. Come in!" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of there!' *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said of it with the greatest attention. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the here and I will read it to you: southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "'Where could I find him?' permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Texas, I think." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she since then to throw any light upon what became of him." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "It is possible." of the vacancies.' Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "No good news?" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of and wait." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her intrusion of other matters." with her." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a developed." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with within hail.' down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the murdered man." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Yes?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in shaken than I had ever seen him. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here shadow pass over his face as I spoke. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. For additional contact information: akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Thank you. And your address?" met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are away in different directions, and I went off to make my own were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right straightened it out again. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "I am armed." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have in him." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Oh, the cause is excellent!" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "It certainly sounds feasible." there." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of your room." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "It certainly sounds feasible." which it had come upon my father." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on whatever might befall. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature presented which may be striking and bizarre without being you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Not yet." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Certainly." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would have established a very serious case against the son of the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the the stones. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this against a man in the prime of life?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I to go into your room and bar your shutters?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "He is dead," cried several voices. II. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "It goes to the housekeeper's room." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary situation." "It is possible." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Yes." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'Oh, no.' whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such it. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight upon a handsome competence. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' away into the river." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I