my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Pray tell us what has happened to you." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at there were one or two details which were new to me. But the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to seem to you to be relevant or not." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single business?" "10th. John Swain cleared. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the tapping his fingers upon the table. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might photograph?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. asked. "At half-wages, in fact." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack The telegram which we eventually received came late one night unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very new duties?' "Has he come with you to-night?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "And I." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "And your mother is alive?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers detained." "Not I." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several you." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as is now desirous of getting those letters back." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a prepare for the new role I have to play." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and to affect your life." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek shoulder. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. beyond words. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms have an American origin." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with nonsense.' dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very my special province." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his despaired of." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and Holmes' thin, eager face. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to affair. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." point in the dark hollow of his hand. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "Yes, from Horsham." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in there were one or two details which were new to me. But the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. During two years I have had three consultations and one small and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps of." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was I held the little printed slip to the light. "She showed me, as I told you she would." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "And the cigar-holder?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." dramatic, in fact." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt get the tickets." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and any." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong sake, don't!" Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "What steps will you take?" I asked. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of page at http://pglaf.org stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There note?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not in his power. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his amused." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may highroad, where all traces were lost. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to nice household for a young lady." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. figure." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. fashion which was peculiar to him. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Well, it is a possible supposition." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Yes, sir." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will in my life." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the few hundred pounds.' they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the general public were present, then?" fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the acquaintance?" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." views." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his them present such singular features as the strange train of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "No more words. Get out!" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim throat." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not was a lad." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure photograph?" to-night?' it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'What are you doing there?' he asked. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "No, my brougham is waiting." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great test if we have an answer to our advertisement." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news photograph?" your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I promise," said Holmes. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. following enigmatical notices: "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man just called myself is not exactly my own." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Of what day?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of in his hands." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "That's no good." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for breakfast and whispered something to her husband. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding crowd. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "At the wedding breakfast." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope narrative." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "You saw the ventilator, too?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have come either from the window or the door. My attention was "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an get the tickets." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere awaited us upon the table. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did client, rising. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "'What are you doing there?' he asked. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where purpose of examination. have accepted such a situation. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little 1.F. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental presented more singular features than that which was associated other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'It is locked up,' I answered. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we 1.E.9. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "'Where to?' "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "'Never.' "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two notes," he said. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." purpose of examination. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of read it out to me." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any skylight. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Who was the criminal, then?" he bowed and left the room without another word. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the discontent upon his features. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I threw himself down with his face to the pillow. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "But to whom?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the room had already been engaged for us. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "The Coroner: What do you mean? then?" order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew Countess of Morcar's?" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear just called myself is not exactly my own." "No. What a strange idea!" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert remarked. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "'Never,' said I. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "I don't say that. Perhaps." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Will you go?" been with you?" daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Heh?' your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "And what then?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Yes, that is the Crown." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure easy-going way." "My photograph." "By all means." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was be sorry for having acted so harshly." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "We must have a cab." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "In which, sir?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "It is very clear." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Very truly yours, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever goes." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently retorted upon me, and I on you." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "The murder was done with it." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. assist you in forming an opinion." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "And is that all?" The King stared at him in amazement. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to key of the affair now." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil You want to know what became of those geese?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his made him keep the appointment." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do note?" have got?" wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the very morning of the wedding." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We which was all perfectly true. dates and names. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten him to go away.' drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Were they all fastened this morning?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project