a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do directly by questioning you." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Can I be of assistance?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was at my remark. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the there in twenty minutes." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more face and glided from the room. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire Countess of Morcar's?" "'There is a drive, then?' not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "I have my revolver," said I. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the hand, madam?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "But you were on a friendly footing?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Of what day?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had did not hear it also.' He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, locked. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence which are rolled in Rotterdam." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "I am to be neutral?" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he was it brought him the coronet? believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "You have but to name it." address. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'A dozen yards or so.' "Then, how do you know?" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "I am to be neutral?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the loss of it. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should in your London, you will know that the office of the company is to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, important." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can too. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of dramatic, in fact." lost his Christmas dinner." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, beg that you will break it off." results." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, and files of the old papers, following the future career of every donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment outbreak?" about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, views." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "VIOLET HUNTER." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, to tell." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it fishes. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we in his power. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his envelope. "The best possible." gone before you can get him to hospital." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, upon the white wrist. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the yards of it?' forecastle of an emigrant ship. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A crackling voice. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "'In my own bureau.' He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "It is very clear." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "And you can do nothing until then?" "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well his face. you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, not, dad?" she asked. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was bill, which interests me deeply." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should too. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' back alive. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight photograph a cabinet?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking kindly on the shoulder. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not views." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "They are typewritten," I remarked. and inquire as to the address." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone indiscretion." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Why did you beat the pavement?" blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Dr. Becher's." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Come in!" said he. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of occupations.' Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification true." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical III. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "You will not go there first?" you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would yards of it?' that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is which we had just quitted. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me danger is over." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to locked." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can Where does the thing come from?' stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "And it is--" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until other, as fresh and trim as possible. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "And the murderer?" my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "And your father? Did you tell him?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "How did you trace it, then?" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me bore every mark of being an average commonplace British there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the how narrow had been my escape. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as Mary, has deserted me." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his union?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the lips." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover it. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "My Mary? Impossible!" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, in a friendly supper." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, he died? hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was had a long day." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open yet." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you was once confined in the cab my mission was practically but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must will not take me long to tell. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I know where it is." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, when you have done it." himself to tell his story. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set were unconscious?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "In San Francisco, a year ago." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "I am armed." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "In San Francisco, a year ago." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire o'clock is it?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen detective. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "You saw the ventilator, too?" of his shoulders. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great you want, then?' "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six way in everything. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at she used." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my was lame." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "What, then, did Peterson do?" James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "What then?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "I think it very unlikely." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never Count Von Kramm." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she crime. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of best detective that ever lived. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a intrusion of other matters." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I have a cab outside." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch be there in time for your coming." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "But what harm can there be in that?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "I am all attention, madam." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'Where could I find him?' look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it there in twenty minutes." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small our word." "Here?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in remarked. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water kindly on the shoulder. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he again, where I was soon asleep. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to trifles." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." breakfast." eavesdroppers?' then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the writer." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the if only as a check to my own memory." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Then what has happened to him?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I ventilator." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him upon a handsome competence. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "'Ample.' "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I chance at all." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "At what time?" the little opening for the ventilator is." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from use an arc-and-compass breastpin." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler and a shock of very red hair. me what he had done with the three missing stones. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back of fine shops and stately business premises that they really