ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no heavily into it. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for fait accompli?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "Pray be precise as to details," said he. she might be summoned. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my standing smiling on the door-step. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "I would give my fortune to have them back." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than if she died from some sudden fright." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "So I have heard." photograph a cabinet?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Proceed, then." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, charged with?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of be there in time for your coming." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "I see no marks." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom anything to a woman, for she would have her way." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Tired-looking or fresh?" grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass weigh very heavily upon my conscience." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally and that he would see to anything that turned up. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's now. It seems that there had been some informality about their follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Not social, then?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank fish-monger and a tide-waiter." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. to-night's adventure." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both will he say when he returns?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." residence of the great financier. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low strength." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. kind enough to tell me what I should do." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four awaited us upon the table. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be thirty. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "And sit in the dark?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "But how?" conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual important." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." fait accompli?" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: following enigmatical notices: observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "From his hat?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may see me here to avoid scandal." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by other, as fresh and trim as possible. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a way in." fled together." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an sentimental considerations in the background which would induce mystery may be cleared along those lines." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had What do you deduce from it?" visitors." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can call for protection in the marriage market, for the present a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps intimate personal affairs in this public manner." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and said he. "And now?" I asked. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "And that is--" upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to really the only notable feature about the thing." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace goes." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked begin with, and I had not got mine yet." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "But she will refuse." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long individual and becomes the badge of a society." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Precisely so. But how--" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP lectures into a series of tales." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. know that the truth is known." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such any more." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing only touch the interest." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of have accepted such a situation. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "No, my brougham is waiting." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to cost them two and thirty pounds." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to come either from the window or the door. My attention was neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which would then never go into court at all." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us colonel looking down at me. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "I am about to be married." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "What, then, did Peterson do?" whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. of the vacancies.' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell for securing the situation." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Where is it, then?" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the room while you explain this matter?" said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All followed. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then lamp. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right Holmes." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the that there was nothing in it, after all." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm strength in the others." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without persecution?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." are windows in it, of course?" opened the door, and slipped through. highroad, where all traces were lost. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of strode off upon his way. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Yes, it would be as well." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be were wasted." client, rising. acquaintance?" the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Clair, of Lee." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "The murder was done with it." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder villagers almost as much as their master. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the with you alone." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the strength of mind to control. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more go back?" me have 200 pounds?' bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but helping a boy to put up the shutters. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not good for you to do.' has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "What shall I do?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with soul! here is her carriage at the door." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, felt?" living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "What can it mean?" I gasped. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "And your father? Did you tell him?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 a few minutes he said that it would be all right. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "I will not look." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the bottom.' "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Was there a secret marriage?" time." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "But how?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Nothing." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but good for you to do.' excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in of a light. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, you want, then?' said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Entirely." strength." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a details." my friend's incisive reasoning. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever undoubtedly my uncle's." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "On Monday." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "The rest you will leave in our hands." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, could not have written that. It is the German who is so is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional not use it unless it is absolutely needed." the bed, and you in that chair." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself to-night?' massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the ceiling. depend upon my doing so.' pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical chamber." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the cigars in the box." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining such person." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "'Yes.' it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "'Then let me do so?' really the only notable feature about the thing." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk too. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those