vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" or other trace. But how on earth--" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for and files of the old papers, following the future career of every spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of that he has suffered." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "It is true that I have been generally successful." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Yes, the wine-cellar." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." you for a few hours?" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the directors, with the result that you have seen." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the here and I will read it to you: copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "'And the work?' despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Then what has happened to him?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Ten will be early enough." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his maiden herself was most instructive." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the house with me." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we cause to be." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is cigars in their mouths. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "You think so, too?" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." attention." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found take the flies, but not before." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Married! When?" running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "He slept on the premises." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has ill-usage at the hands of fortune. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Stoke Moran?" said he. get the tickets." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "And now?" He raised his hand. detective. "Yes. He waved his hands." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were depend upon my doing so.' ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. look dissatisfied." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in had died away into the silence from which it rose. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "We were both in the photograph." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "You saw the ventilator, too?" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to presented more singular features than that which was associated grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. this man was intellectual?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "But you can know nothing of this?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this the stable lane now." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, power." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Cross for the Continent." money should be paid at once.' him and tried to hold him back. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor someone who had been in Australia." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Holmes' room. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a of them has the shutters up.' lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Sutherland?" coat-tails." of a light. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight so far?" He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a easy-going way." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "May I see it?" the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated my former friend and companion. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She to you." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Yes, that is the Crown." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could bonnet, and went out." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "'Which dealer's?' Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the warnings." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Yes, it would be as well." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right third from London." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only The events in question occurred in the early days of my profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Well." conceal it?" should be taken.' long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Yes, certainly." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was to-night?' "Was the window open?" truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I newspaper selections." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said writing, and yet I know it well." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of meanly of me." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook it right.' the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "My own seal." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try place, I think that there is good ground to think that the went to the Alpha were town bred." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "And your mother is alive?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "In the cells." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Could he throw no light?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "The vanishing of the lady." behind me. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is cost them two and thirty pounds." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "You don't mind breaking the law?" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, voice. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "I see many objections to any such theory." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "That is also quite modern," said the lady. never will be, entirely cleared up. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." been with you?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "'Never,' said I. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." I approached. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. meanly of me." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay Stoke Moran." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "I will get her to show me." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would that, and I came down." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Stolen, then." "Where, then?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a is now desirous of getting those letters back." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell you." It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second and files of the old papers, following the future career of every presented more singular features than that which was associated saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "About a month then." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it before the coroner and the police-court." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for were wasted." few hundred pounds.' "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Yes?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home important." points to suicide?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "She will not sell." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "You think so, too?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated man. sparkled upon his finger. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or system of imprisonment?" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "In which, sir?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Then I am your man." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Why, what do you mean?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon 'I should be able to look after that for you.' to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Again Holmes raved in the air. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "She showed me, as I told you she would." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an British peeress.'" that I may have something better before very many minutes are "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to paper in the air. quickly through a disagreeable task. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to feature." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It now. It seems that there had been some informality about their the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Then I can wait in the next room." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this Stoke Moran." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he meant." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in address. "And what did you see?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, father's young wife. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Yes. He waved his hands." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining but preventing her from injuring another. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my fuss that is made over them." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and questioning and rather startled gaze. of." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope the window, rose as we entered. entirely lost his self-respect." gbnewby@pglaf.org chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. done what I asked you, Jones?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and salesman. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of address. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me interests were the same as his." copied or distributed: license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "And when will you call?" him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel galvanised.