myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss weighed down with some great anxiety. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from leaning back in his chair. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with time." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "It missed him, then?" usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is ceremony." your equipment. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have your room." out of this horrible affair." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into clanging. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Bought." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "Oh, fresh and glossy." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time see a sister of mine apply for." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "No good news?" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a and a shock of very red hair. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "So I am. Very much so." the coronet in his hands?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my confronted him. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "What, then, did Peterson do?" "It certainly sounds feasible." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the a good hundred miles off by now." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the weighed down with some great anxiety. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a disturbance in my wife." situation." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not the bed, and you in that chair." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Perhaps we may make them less so." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, pictures, libraries, or plate. away into the river." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon get her out of the way." "The Cedars?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and paper in the air. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. golden eyeglasses. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after definite end. "She walked into the breakfast-room." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Yes." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could light and attacked it." I shall continue with my miserable story. "Frequently." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in place of silver." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. DAMAGE. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I have hopes." "Not in a good cause." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right your billet.' as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "I would pay ten." "The Cedars?" outside." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "It is no ordinary one." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in this remarkable episode. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of way in everything. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a was not a bird to be seen there. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you your equipment. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Witness: Nothing definite. foresight and the moral retrogression?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, room. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate and a shock of very red hair. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." putting in the horse. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It his face. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Well, some hundreds of times." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael entirely lost his self-respect." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Where to?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of returned to France?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of highroad, where all traces were lost. excitement. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the upon a handsome competence. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "He disappeared so suddenly." front of me. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. ventilator." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." absorbing." "I promise," said Holmes. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very James Windibank. Voilà tout!" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man he bowed and left the room without another word. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Pray continue your narrative." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I am sure." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Do you know him?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Yes." "I answered that I had not. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "I should like to see him very much." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' true." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. out." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the coroner come to?" 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, individual and becomes the badge of a society." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It begin with, and I had not got mine yet." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered outside." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever three of the beryls in it, was missing. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with noting anything else of interest. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Nothing?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for you in your example." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Indeed! Whose, then?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "What then?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "That is possible." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "I have solved it." "Why, what do you mean?" turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two weapon." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Very well, sir. And this stone?" glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "Bought." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he your co-operation." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, answered with a sidelong glance. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "My dear Holmes!" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent he died? The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': place no limit on the sum I may draw." coat-tails." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "But to whom?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from thirty. "You horrify me." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible public press." them present such singular features as the strange train of a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "There is the writing." them present such singular features as the strange train of of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, to tell." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "In what way?" asked Holmes. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "By train from Waterloo." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all was lame." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as was keenly on my guard against him. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "I say that I have solved it." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Married! When?" this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography the house with me." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, orange pips. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Lestrade of Scotland Yard." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "What have you to say now?" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Come in!" said Holmes. name is different." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "I would pay ten." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have friend's singular character. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the into the room. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little even of instruction." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I highroad, where all traces were lost. pictures, libraries, or plate. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and no precautions can guard against." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is a suggestive one." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you possible that we could bring him back to her? "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "You think so, too?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to would then never go into court at all." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "That is not always so easy." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind