position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he look dissatisfied." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf strange features which were associated with the two crimes which promised to bring home. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every mystery!" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the date of his supposed suicide." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not congratulate you again." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming as this. Pray let me have the details." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." on in his house." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. of Fenchurch Street." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, criminal. We have already had experience of such." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "But what will you do?" "No, thank goodness, she did not." for its centre. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can least a fellow-countryman. from you?" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers arrangements." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the his wife has ceased to love him." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Eyford." had a long day." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate business." "I should like to see him very much." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "'I am sure if I had known--' red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. get the tickets." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her nice household for a young lady." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in companion. then?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." is so. I know all about McCarthy." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Sholtos." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him my little problems." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "We must have a cab." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry tapping his fingers upon the table. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his the window, rose as we entered. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "'Ample.' step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. train.' hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "It came here." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The a suggestive one." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay six. Come in!" "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." Have you good authority for what you say?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless more terrible than the truth. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting cheerful." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Well, some hundreds of times." voice, changing her seat as requested. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in bird of prey. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Ample." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in may have an influence upon European history." "Then I do not see the point." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the His smile broadened. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened and that he would see to anything that turned up. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he rooms." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. hurried by. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I stood on the top of it. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard one of them." chance at all." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who showing my impatience. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "At what time?" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "But how?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." character. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "You did not overhear what they said?" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Yes, I have one waiting." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's presented which may be striking and bizarre without being What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the to a more successful conclusion." pressing in one house as in another. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, Literary Archive Foundation "My dear Holmes!" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission of them has the shutters up.' 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "What, then, did Peterson do?" like gravel from a pit.' beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, roused himself from his reverie. your Highness to the police-station?" questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a had this final quarrel? not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much his forehead." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I copied or distributed: offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of to tackle the facts." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and his eyes and forehead. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! instincts rose up against that laugh. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "What do you make of that, Watson?" throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at himself in a perplexing position. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his business at Coburg Square is serious." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it persecution?" outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "To an English lawyer named Norton." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Your presence might be invaluable." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot row." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the papers." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "It is no ordinary one." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I a good hundred miles off by now." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and trifles." cause to be." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to over here." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw ready to-morrow?' promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "You were travelling in the States?" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might Dr. Gregory B. Newby deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their in darkness. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "Yes." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless that he will be back before evening." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should his face which made him a very different person to the round, it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the me where it went to?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "'And what salary do you ask?' afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he entirely devoid of interest." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child knowledge of the world." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of flock.' of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and strength in the others." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the where she found matters as described by the last witness. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Not him." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "About a month then." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting father's place of business?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the said he at last. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her joking. I nodded to show that I had heard. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news had formerly been in part my own. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Witness: Nothing definite. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a tell them apart.' "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so read it out to me." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "It came here." in the hope of finding them." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "'I have heard so.' no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be your only hope of safety." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Where is it, then?" flock.' Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the window, rose as we entered. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid I. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "None." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the Red-headed League." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. never to learn it at all." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: how narrow had been my escape. "Imitated." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Thank you. And your address?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Edgeware Road. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Do you go out much in society?" seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "I say that I have solved it." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Pope's Court, Fleet Street." will he say when he returns?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there all that?" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "But you were on a friendly footing?" must compliment you." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock down in his armchair and closing his eyes. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Imitated." "I would pay ten." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A girl said." washing it down with a long draught of water. to you." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet some city in a dream. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Married! When?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold has little to do with my story." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "How do you know, then?" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Frequently." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'Stolen!' he cried. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate