"If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I cannot say that I have." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I train.' morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Chief Executive and Director not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "It is no ordinary one." three fields round his house, and there he would take his mystery!" predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "And what did you learn from him?" instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. call it cruel." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to salesman. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "You heard nothing yourself last night?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second should be so warm over such a trifle." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Very truly yours, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which be there in time for your coming." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the have had none more fantastic than this." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" exactly what you advise." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "Pray let us have it, for all that." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with so.' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt shag which I had seen upon the previous night. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an married her." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" own family. his huge brown hands. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. crowd. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some past. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice letters?" confronted him. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, must be when I saw the door open.' Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a chance." dead, shall be safe with us." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than careless servant girl?" be best to do. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, tied." "'Ample.' sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "How can you tell that?" to tell." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't them, and came down just as you departed. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been to some other building. "Then, how do you know?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where to go into your room and bar your shutters?" including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "And I." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he few hundred pounds.' had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future with her." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, I took the paper from him and read as follows: no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand how narrow had been my escape. "Really! You surprise me." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon you?' at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" her also." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your to a more successful conclusion." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, away to you." character. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out leaning back in his chair. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will mysterious business." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to affection." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no bill, which interests me deeply." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles acquaintance?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was ordinary clothes on?" "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "And when will you call?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? lips." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was him!" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a awkward doing business with an alias." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Perhaps I have." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry waste of energy." "What can you not understand?" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which over part of the map. "What do you read?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" believe that I should never have any practice at all. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses enough to aid us in our search." nothing with him." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the do.' conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. shall not find me ungrateful." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set intimate personal affairs in this public manner." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend time." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes was once confined in the cab my mission was practically and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between back into the street. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, as yours." "I will get her to show me." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a should be so warm over such a trifle." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the best detective that ever lived. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Of Friday, June 19th." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "By no means." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Stoke Moran." they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Certainly." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Perfectly so." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "What then?" skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, it were putty." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "I should like to see him very much." McCarthy." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, very old mansion. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "That is it on the dressing-table." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the which we had just quitted. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He wedding?" she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into your co-operation." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared test if we have an answer to our advertisement." bled considerably." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Pool. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found rose-bushes. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further society." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark passage and a tap at the door. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from gone before you can get him to hospital." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed thirty. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some it right.' "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This newspaper selections." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Watson," he said cordially. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not electronic works "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "And you thought he was pulled back?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I assure you that I am in your hands." that?' straightened it out again. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "BALLARAT." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "You horrify me!" recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "You'll never persuade me to believe that." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Stoke Moran." heavily into it. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "From his hat?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be within hail.' even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for James Windibank. Voilà tout!" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a discontent upon his features. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Entirely." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Then what has happened to him?" Holmes' room. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' was the fact that his father should, according to his account, into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to opened the door, and slipped through. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut it were putty." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in occupations.' absolutely follow my advice in every respect." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered bachelor.' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers I shall communicate with you." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or washing it down with a long draught of water. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a are, and they are waiting for us." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "But how could you guess what the motive was?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty thought that she would have been so carried away." chance at all." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "ARAT," I read. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "It surprised me." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "It looks newer than the other things?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the noble correspondent could be. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to served to weaken the effect. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "We must sit without light. He would see it through the The police have openly confessed that they can at present make common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from secret." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Sutherland?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "Proceed, then." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled