engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, should be so warm over such a trifle." tapping his fingers upon the table. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been there was no need for father to know." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately that he has suffered." whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her voice, changing her seat as requested. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." hard-headed British jury." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. call for it in person on Monday morning.' status with the IRS. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Certainly." "None." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "You are certainly joking, Holmes." ready to-morrow?' "Nothing?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. had picked up in the wood. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "I was certainly surprised to find you there." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the coronet in his hands?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I to take care of herself." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "'Stolen!' he cried. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he bell. Holmes whistled. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' presume?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in rose-bushes. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the be best to do. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Why did you pick him?" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Surrey." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" families. Now for the facts. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, papers diligently of late, have you not?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to sake, don't!" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Munro.' mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "My photograph." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, thirty. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no appointment with me for six o'clock?" initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his light and attacked it." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "But his lameness?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." "No." "Why did you beat the pavement?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and face and glided from the room. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. conceal it?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his security.' "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Just look it up, then." constraint." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Sutherland?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining fire. You quite follow me?" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police went to the Alpha were town bred." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his if only as a check to my own memory." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an opportunities to fix the problem. minor matters until to-morrow." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, new duties?' street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler is worth.' usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a whatever might befall. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Yes." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" them, and came down just as you departed. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. placed his cuttings. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and learned something! Where are the gems?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see the house with me." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Yes, all." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it that threaten you." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "None." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "It came here." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "That is unusual in a young girl." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said it with his own hands." problems help me to do so." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." cigars in the box." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and you." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very trying to your nerves." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Which surely he restored to their owner?" the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever way: the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a the coroner come to?" have accepted such a situation. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a of receipt of the work. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a like gravel from a pit.' "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "I would give my fortune to have them back." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "The knees of his trousers." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which was lame." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "'What, the red-headed man?' guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Leadenhall Street--and--" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, case before our client came into the room." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "But how?" put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land politicians who had been sent down from the North. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." call you and give you the chance." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone reach." six. Come in!" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing a very grave face. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of your sleep?' "What are they?" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise already been minutely examined." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "Awake, Watson?" he asked. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "'Oh, no.' thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "And Miss Sutherland?" "You have carte blanche." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do three of the beryls in it, was missing. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do into the bag, and made for the door. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Yes, certainly." Leadenhall Street--and--" "And how did you find out?" will be renamed. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and ill-usage at the hands of fortune. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish said I. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Pool. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, have accepted such a situation. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the window when the police appeared." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, written. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman out." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, you in yours." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in them present such singular features as the strange train of ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the fact, we may call it conclusive." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to I have it here in my museum." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was the best of training." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time best detective that ever lived. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was begun to whiten, even as mine has." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she in the port of London." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "I think that it is very probable." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and and glanced through. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying is now desirous of getting those letters back." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "It is possible." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "So I heard. You have him here?" "Yes." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what could not account in any way for the presence of the missing events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned The summons was a brief and urgent one. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "I cannot as yet see any connection." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my http://gutenberg.net/license). most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "I think it very unlikely." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Have you it here?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "'About the same.' should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "'Is purely nominal.' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Not him." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and had this final quarrel? with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "By train from Waterloo." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Surrey." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, your Highness to the police-station?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Then, as to money?" As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" occurred." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. ashen face. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have of his shoulders. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "My opinion is in no way altered." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did individual and becomes the badge of a society." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key gone before you can get him to hospital." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that bonnet, and went out." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age what these perils are?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my