and all of them with the keenest interest. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited know that the truth is known." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Pray do so." is a common subject for conversation. "We were both in the photograph." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come extraordinary contortions. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did the Red-headed League." "I will try. What is it?" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of business." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the at a side door. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made McCarthy." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "I see many objections to any such theory." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "When did it break out?" "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Pray do so." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds vanished into the darkness. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Was the window open?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without she might be summoned. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." away into the river." you." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" your most interesting statement." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we impression behind it as though a window had gently closed exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be you give your casting vote to?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best villagers almost as much as their master. room. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' four million human beings all jostling each other within the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "And your father? Did you tell him?" Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with to arrive at through this?" "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in my room." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Ah, but I was recommended to you." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." straightened it out again. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" his cane at the bell-pull. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. seem to you to be relevant or not." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Then I am your man." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered second." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." to-night?' face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "I see no marks." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing papers diligently of late, have you not?" at my remark. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "'Ample.' fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me written. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where and the church but not where the lady lived." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a posted to-day." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "But to whom?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the head. So long, then!" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the child." ceremony." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so the inner apartment." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. good-night and bustled off upon her way. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now outside. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that public press." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Stolen." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you to-night's adventure." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "You know me, then?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." was feeling which was the fattest.' and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Yes." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a perplexity from it to my illustrious client. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. of his shoulders. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Yes." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send lids now and glanced across at his visitor. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I been able to understand it, in a very few words. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "How long did she speak to this Alice?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Married! When?" this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, interested in these little problems, and since you are good "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen the general public were present, then?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' believe that I should never have any practice at all. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Perhaps I have." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "But his lameness?" it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The the so-precious time, but come!' His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "At half-wages, in fact." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, already been minutely examined." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to it." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his approach us with offers to donate. "I should wish to." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per the morning and make my own way in the world.' crackling voice. row." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "'How far from the body?' door?" fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Was there a secret marriage?" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all families. Now for the facts. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the our word." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and to take care of herself." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "But how?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." there in twenty minutes." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Perhaps I have." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a vanished into the darkness. "You forget that I know nothing about it." disappearance of these gems?" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I derbies." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Nothing." you in your example." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It evidence," I remarked. you?' was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew a suggestive one." weary and pale-looking. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there conduct the inquiry." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Ample." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London may never be exposed to such a temptation." "'I am sure if I had known--' the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the station." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' completely overtopped every other consideration that we both prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "10th. John Swain cleared. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at face and glided from the room. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "And leave your case unfinished?" "I see no marks." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him fashion which was peculiar to him. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not one else, I think." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I four million human beings all jostling each other within the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, to tackle the facts." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Nothing?" "What then?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a ashen face. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "She showed me, as I told you she would." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Leadenhall Street--and--" characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who was a perfect sample of the class. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "About a month then." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up October 9, 1890. fatally injured? "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "That's no good." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, case-book, which he consulted. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her present." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy may have an influence upon European history." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I his grey eyes. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I man. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when to you." him and tried to hold him back. "So it appears." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and bill, which interests me deeply." the inquest, and which are worth considering." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to think, you have already met." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad did not hear it also.' question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be and effective." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. a room. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "And did you observe any change in her then?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, outside. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love upon the shelf for the interim." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather the bottom.' that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' woman." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some a room. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he with her." arrested. You then--" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and must compliment you." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A seen the man in the road." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "'Ten to two.' my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. young Openshaw's." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil gives a meaning to it." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before weigh very heavily upon my conscience." not come at once?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did room. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "May I see it?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "That's no good." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and asked. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the