force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have brought there to personate someone, and the real person is science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "'No, I know no one in these parts.' often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." might have a private word with us. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the yards of it?' them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and strength." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The room had already been engaged for us. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "You are all wrong." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But directors, with the result that you have seen." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "How long did she speak to this Alice?" business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his chair. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. not as remarkable as your advertisement." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. him to be an active member of the medical profession." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I look upon these things in a different way." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Mary, has deserted me." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "But you were on a friendly footing?" surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "What have you to say now?" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "Yes." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to hair?' outbreak?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of said he, "my real name is James Ryder." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my to surprise her." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE meant." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent place, I think that there is good ground to think that the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. three of the beryls in it, was missing. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, McCarthy." "Who was the criminal, then?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Who was the criminal, then?" bachelor.' instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Certainly." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my which we had just quitted. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch perplexity from it to my illustrious client. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the keep the flames under. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come anything to a woman, for she would have her way." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Nothing?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "And I." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. hardly wander." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight what is your own theory as to what took place?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened whole matter to your consideration." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's shall use the carriage to-night." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "If so, much may have happened between." success. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, infinite languor in his face. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "What is it, then--a fire?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been unprofitable." corner of the building. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, furiously. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. The events in question occurred in the early days of my has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "We have tried and failed." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Holmes." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as McCarthy." helping a boy to put up the shutters. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you late!' unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" in. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then said I. yet." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was learned something! Where are the gems?" of campaign. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a breakfast and whispered something to her husband. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" villagers almost as much as their master. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." trifles." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "I was afraid that you were engaged." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "'You doubt its value?' he asked. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Holmes, the busybody!" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Game for a morning drive?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special power." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "I am still in the dark." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "10th. John Swain cleared. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from said he at last. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the vanished into the darkness. with her." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "You don't mind breaking the law?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his were unconscious?" "Did your wife hear all this?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed with some details as to your case." "And now?" He raised his hand. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. to-night?' a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming anything to a woman, for she would have her way." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there My friend smiled. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "I would pay ten." fattened it expressly for you.' little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, been shamefully used." humiliation." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were lectures into a series of tales." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Was she in good spirits?" the ceiling. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was rat could hardly pass through." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might allusion to a rat. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the indeed happy." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "I see no marks." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had little adventures." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "No bad?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If straighten it?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, go back?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it society." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Never to return." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very back to my heart. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one went to the Alpha were town bred." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over room. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated noting anything else of interest. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "You are certainly joking, Holmes." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'Never.' Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all fear." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of not, dad?" she asked. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any visitors." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Certainly." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "I am armed." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to beyond words. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning quite distinctive." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of hair?' of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, have had none more fantastic than this." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police you came in." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled coat-tails." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager washing it down with a long draught of water. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he little adventures." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We murdered man." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. your equipment. "'Yes.' with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." tension within him. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "None." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of is so. I know all about McCarthy." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker fatally injured? "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner This is what he says: each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a daring than any effort of the imagination." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." think that any burglar could have done. "Nothing." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was reach." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can you, my dear young lady?' trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back here." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Then you may entirely rely on me." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them salesman. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. 1.F. "I say it is." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a from you?" appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "How did that help you?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, my little problems." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it