families. Now for the facts. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, was feeling which was the fattest.' the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for out of this horrible affair." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Pray tell us what has happened to you." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "My dear Holmes!" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the not, dad?" she asked. like gravel from a pit.' and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the examine." Chief Executive and Director way in." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in trifles." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white fact, we may call it conclusive." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "You horrify me." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and 1.E.9. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right the tragedy. what do you think they found in the pockets?" is a common subject for conversation. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent memory. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. me upon any point which I do not make clear." "How did he come?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Won't it ring?" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as My friend smiled. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "And Irene Adler?" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached just called myself is not exactly my own." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. possible that we could bring him back to her? and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate whole matter to your consideration." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" His name is Francis Prosper." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "I came to find a friend." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Of what day?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke to-morrow." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing what these perils are?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated mystery may be cleared along those lines." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat the little opening for the ventilator is." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "I see many objections to any such theory." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he third from London." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that in the dead of the night?' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "'What do you call purely nominal?' have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Then how many are there?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "I don't believe it." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "That sounds a little paradoxical." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I key turn in the lock." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "I assure you that I am in your hands." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that get her out of the way." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet emerged. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "To an end?" "The knees of his trousers." "And how have you succeeded?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "I don't say that. Perhaps." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in posted to-day." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and intimate personal affairs in this public manner." there has been an enclosure here!" great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Pray tell us what has happened to you." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over not, dad?" she asked. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" skylight. "What then?" The events in question occurred in the early days of my just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where extraordinary contortions. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 families. Now for the facts. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I absorbing." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "She showed me, as I told you she would." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my row." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "And that is--" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a question," said Holmes, smiling. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Quite so." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a union?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever completely overtopped every other consideration that we both than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "An enemy?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin tell him that I know him to be innocent." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read ran thus: "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the his face which made him a very different person to the round, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the bottom.' with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "That was it, sir." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You carriage. It was a chestnut." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the in his hands." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten man. I know him from the photograph." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "The King of Scandinavia." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that written. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Nothing?" "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened had this final quarrel? company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I used to be." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't 1.F. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Yes, all." anything to do with the matter?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the in his power. place no limit on the sum I may draw." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out anything to do with the matter?" "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "No, but the enclosure is." "And I to find an enemy." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could minor matters until to-morrow." to a more successful conclusion." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "You horrify me." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Dark enough and sinister enough." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced appointment with me for six o'clock?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to get the tickets." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "An enemy?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. hurried away. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, matters immensely." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, young Openshaw's." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see stalked out of the room. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He DISSOLVED. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." present." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "None." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "We must have a cab." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in one or two very singular points about this room. For example, his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and indeed happy." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, not as remarkable as your advertisement." and inquire as to the address." the tragedy. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "My own seal." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "Who by?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." to tell." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to deduce something from that?" in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the During two years I have had three consultations and one small large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the works. See paragraph 1.E below. My friend smiled. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "What is it?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "No, I had a dozen." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. married her." telegram would bring me down to your help." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. upon the shelf for the interim." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "'I have heard so.' remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place hand, madam?" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "But we can't all be." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and some place of shelter and let the county police know what has characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "'Where could I find him?' brandy and water within his reach. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. definite end. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "That is easily got." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His up this clue while it is still hot." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the your billet.' steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "I was sure that I might rely on you." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their You can understand that this register and diary may implicate whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "I will, Miss Turner." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us like that before?" screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is over with notes and figures. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a detective. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free