"I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. bird of prey. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth morning." points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. door?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "'I shall certainly be there.' that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey excitement. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "So I have heard." bonnet, and went out." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My some water from a caraffe. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a and wait." "I have seen the police." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I way in." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "'Certainly not.' very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his emerged. Leadenhall Street--and--" chance." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a Mary, has deserted me." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Your sister is dead, then?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it yet." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone McCarthy's innocence. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, my former friend and companion. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud stepfather?" "You know me, then?" bird of prey. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I will get her to show me." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'What would be the hours?' I asked. leave you to your papers for a little." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his soul! here is her carriage at the door." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but It was close upon four before the door opened, and a have an American origin." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "My photograph." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Where does the thing come from?' description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my me where it went to?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "You will not go there first?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "I am all attention, madam." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "I was sure that I might rely on you." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have front of the hall door has given its name to the place. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind You want to know what became of those geese?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Nothing?" Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "And that is--" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered bearing upon the case." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Not him." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I will do it." digesting their breakfasts at home." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "There are none." arrangements." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he shall not find me ungrateful." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "This photograph!" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the meant it for the best. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' words came to my lips. electronic works set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the already referred to. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "None. Neville wrote those words." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." yourselves in at night?" a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "It is his hat." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Ha! you find it so?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "My opinion is in no way altered." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing point our research must commence, and we will begin it by it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the one as in the other." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with good-night and bustled off upon her way. face and glided from the room. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "We have tried and failed." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "No bad?" would then never go into court at all." emerged. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Dr. Becher's." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It be.' "10th. John Swain cleared. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden have accepted such a situation. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "And why?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in the warnings." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this case before our client came into the room." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that trifles." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Doctor, of the paper and the date." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "But how?" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King is worth.' he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "That is it on the dressing-table." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that to-night?' cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I was a lad." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a following enigmatical notices: taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "And how have you succeeded?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to hurried away. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "That is easily got." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back for and were ordered to this address. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "It is very kind of you." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Not in the least." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a like gravel from a pit.' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that this truth that in these little records of our cases which you The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Then I shall certainly come." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "And Irene Adler?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Eyford." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Then he might have called to you?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a companion. Clair, of Lee." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. acted in my house last night?" trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke true." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my chemical work which was so dear to him. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. matters immensely." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just presented more singular features than that which was associated near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave man. I know him from the photograph." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, works. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Tired-looking or fresh?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very the stones. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I I leave." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural might help us?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's you." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal enough to aid us in our search." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the which was all perfectly true. to surprise her." "No, I think that I'll take it." "Can I be of assistance?" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a everything which you would wish to know." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of there." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "An enemy?" must be when I saw the door open.' in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "I warn you that they are very incomplete." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring at once, for I have only half an hour." highroad, where all traces were lost. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Look there!" said he. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when with some details as to your case." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Two days later this same performance was gone through under all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "It may not come to that," said Holmes. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and My friend smiled. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at me where it went to?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the