recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'Certainly not.' had this final quarrel? the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "In the cells." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "You have a clue?" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the the King without delay." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "I shall be delighted." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some mysterious business." on in his house." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others have had none more fantastic than this." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from here." miles off. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her hour?' with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity I took the paper from him and read as follows: visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing shoulder. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress delirious. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are any little problem which you may submit to me." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while and wait." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that note?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would telegram would bring me down to your help." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Well?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me never to learn it at all." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause and have this put in the evening papers." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a beg that you will break it off." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" the coronet in his hand?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Pool. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, waste of energy." "I fear not." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "By all means." upon the white wrist. secret." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Stoke Moran." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection strength of mind to control. "Yes." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. get the tickets." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose never came back." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady lamp. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "'You cannot say what it was?' of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Yes, only one." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "What is it, then--a fire?" "But your client--" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the October 9, 1890. man. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that business?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "And help." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of and no precautions can guard against." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not sake, don't!" have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such open." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "'What, the red-headed man?' the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your villagers almost as much as their master. "Never." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Perfectly so." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the 1.F. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "No sign of it?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "No legal papers or certificates?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "'Entirely.' copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was hair?' "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own said I. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the I. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered and the whole place is in a blaze." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "How did he come?" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. appeared upon the scene." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Yes." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Stolen." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg disappearance of these gems?" arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Have you good authority for what you say?" morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. me." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, fait accompli?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of words came to my lips. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every side. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it handed it to him. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "'Why that?' I asks. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms round and wave him away like that.' opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Dirty?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel instincts rose up against that laugh. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would me what he had done with the three missing stones. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. investigation." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: in a friendly supper." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular McCarthy." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, giving me time to thank him. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, that he has suffered." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless happened." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it this truth that in these little records of our cases which you deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them telegram would bring me down to your help." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "May I see it?" existence." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "That is unusual in a young girl." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the one else, I think." public press." upon a handsome competence. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "You are hungry," I remarked. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of furiously. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the lectures into a series of tales." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most to a more successful conclusion." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas and looked back. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any or in danger--" people in all walks of life. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge relief. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "A call for help, you thought?" my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and sofa. This way, please!" who was a member of your goose club." "What then?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "It surprised me." time." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step bedroom door." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "My photograph." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "We were both in the photograph." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking ready to-morrow?' Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily matter." "No." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he detective. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the good-night and bustled off upon her way. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Your sister is dead, then?" you came in." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the certainly not very gracious." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "And when will you call?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the certainly not very gracious." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner bell. Holmes whistled. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during be best to do. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your key turn in the lock." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should purpose of examination. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'What do you call purely nominal?' Eyford." you." at my own good fortune. Literary Archive Foundation daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, could gather together that I was able to avert another public "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of bird of prey. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Whose house is it?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm once more to my work. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Ah, but I was recommended to you." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a to affect your life." within hail.' his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the may have an influence upon European history." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, were new raised from a basin. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a