at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a about. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have been anything against him. He had for years been known as a walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. shall not find me ungrateful." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington the Assizes." "We were both in the photograph." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has fear." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "In answer to an advertisement." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our writing, and yet I know it well." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I rooms." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the a little more before I quite committed myself. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. hard-headed British jury." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, my little problems." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point sufficient punishment." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'In my own bureau.' and it need not interfere very much with one's other Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Not him." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "His face fell immediately. "Dr. Becher's." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making only touch the interest." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be envelope. he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "I would pay ten." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys should be taken.' connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and cigar and let me expound." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I of the vacancies.' guilty parties." be there in time for your coming." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the himself. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "No, I had a dozen." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its said he, "my real name is James Ryder." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "How did he come?" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Witness: Nothing definite. "What do you make of that, Watson?" then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "You are hungry," I remarked. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Nothing." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and one else, I think." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he nothing of it?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast man. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should leave you to your papers for a little." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" conceal it?" Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in national property. I was determined that the law should have its "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, where we are going." "'I shall certainly be there.' appointment with me for six o'clock?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were the station." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "It certainly sounds feasible." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." mysterious end." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a fashion which was peculiar to him. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. the date of his supposed suicide." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been to some other building. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "And sit in the dark?" clang of the bell. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you straightened it out again. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we through." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the date of his supposed suicide." "Entirely." "Yesterday." "Then he might have called to you?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and outside." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "No, finished." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed placed his cuttings. "Have you her photograph?" happened." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most there was no need for father to know." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. some city in a dream. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, some city in a dream. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was advice." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you young Openshaw's." lost his Christmas dinner." kind enough to tell me what I should do." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was do.' not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Oh, yes, easily." him. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "No. His orders were to stay in the house." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have emerged. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "'Where could I find him?' unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent gigantic client. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Sutherland. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you knowledge of the world." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any upon the sideboard." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' certainly not very gracious." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "We have tried and failed." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I generous with you in money matters.' Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "'There is a drive, then?' out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Then, how do you know?" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she colonel looking down at me. what I may call a really hard day's work." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a business in the City. She little knew what. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which generous with you in money matters.' know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "'Why that?' I asks. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Could he throw no light?" "My own seal." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "He said that you could solve anything." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, quite distinctive." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Yes, there are nearly always some there." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the matter over." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a manager. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "What of the rat, then?" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I seven miles from Eyford Station.' "To an end?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from would then never go into court at all." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "'Certainly not.' "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew McCarthy's innocence. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "That also I could fathom." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most your troubles." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "You are hungry," I remarked. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men developed." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed yards of it?' it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. be sorry for having acted so harshly." carried out of court." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for think that he is innocent?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a conduct the inquiry." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to one of the states of the Union." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Then how many are there?" the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Then he might have called to you?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police impression behind it as though a window had gently closed the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, the Assizes." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the pound a week." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "You think that he is dead?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts of it with the greatest attention. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes wanted for ourselves." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "It certainly sounds feasible." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had During two years I have had three consultations and one small It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond skylight. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had over here." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence the salesman. "Was there a secret marriage?" "You think so, too?" "Certainly." the loss of it. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Yes, he did." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "What can it mean?" I gasped. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit