her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very made his money." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat away into the river." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went woman." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and learned something! Where are the gems?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further more terrible than the truth. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "So it appears." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had always that they were such commands as a lady might with hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would fact, we may call it conclusive." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'There is a drive, then?' soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "What have you to say now?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's is acting for the best. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great then?" "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the nonsense.' with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Yes, from Horsham." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "'Never.' "And what then?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "And on what day did he meet his death?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do have been better. It is all right." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must Street. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. hard-headed British jury." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "No more words. Get out!" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "But I have heard all that you have heard." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Holmes." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "That also I could fathom." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be through." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are always that they were such commands as a lady might with the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At throat." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" forebodings. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I had this final quarrel? workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. delirious. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from are, I think, all that we need." "I see no marks." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "But who is he?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and I shall continue with my miserable story. very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was never came back." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the your billet.' "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me best detective that ever lived. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'Very good.' away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a gone. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the other means.' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove presented which may be striking and bizarre without being You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "'Tell me all about it,' said I. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the purpose equally well?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and direction." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "How did he come?" opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the the so-precious time, but come!' "And Irene Adler?" firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house house for five minutes.' usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Mary, has deserted me." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, your billet.' appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in there is a decided draught." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side the ceiling. Mrs. Toller serenely. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the important." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "To an English lawyer named Norton." indeed which he could not unravel. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Proceed, then." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "And I say east," said my patient. "No." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "And the cigar-holder?" "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come them?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "How long did she speak to this Alice?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking a suggestive one." made his money." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "It is very kind of you." at once, for I have only half an hour." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where weary and pale-looking. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well together. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "And did you observe any change in her then?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Absolutely none." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" writers could invent nothing more crude." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Then I am your man." purpose of examination. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital some mystery and the punishment of some crime." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, emerged. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Then I am your man." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks dates and names. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more to-morrow." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors outbreak?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I have hopes." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "What do you make of that, Watson?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too orange pips. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been maid will bring up your coffee." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered together. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Yes, he did." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his thin legs towards the fire. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' to affect your life." "Oh, yes, easily." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "How are you getting on?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "I think it very unlikely." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Awake, Watson?" he asked. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Yes." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "I will, Miss Turner." "I will get her to show me." "He is dead," cried several voices. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "But it has twice been burgled." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster the stable lane now." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as may have an influence upon European history." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Yes, the wine-cellar." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some for its centre. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger is worth.' get the tickets." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in then?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might pound a week." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story there were so many in the whole country as were brought together confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, empty. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right do you make of it all?" some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it and the colonel ushered me in. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the visitors." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. bare slabs of marble. murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'Where could I find him?' stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not Mrs. Toller serenely. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on 'please.'" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it new duties?' The police have openly confessed that they can at present make smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I call you and give you the chance." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "He is still with you, I presume?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in discontent upon his features. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "'There is a drive, then?' green of the new foliage. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "And on what day did he meet his death?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at and looked back. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes with some details as to your case." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "That also I could fathom." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "But his left-handedness." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and papers." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Cross for the Continent." "Not yet." "Then I do not see the point." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "How did you trace it, then?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my photograph?" hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Is he quiet?" "Yes, at the mines." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress developed." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the out." confronted him. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of and the whole place is in a blaze." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Stolen, then." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding in your London, you will know that the office of the company is lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. always that they were such commands as a lady might with business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "In answer to an advertisement." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly