"Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I cannot tell." advice." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his telegram would bring me down to your help." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, photograph?" looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "How are you getting on?" had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, persecution?" incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged desk. introspective fashion. "Not yet." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up recall any case within my experience which looked at the first of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "You think so, too?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was had no one to advise her at such a crisis." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he there when the Rucastles went away." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If never to learn it at all." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Certainly." "Who was the criminal, then?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into photograph a cabinet?" he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons as he folded up the epistle. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east It was close upon four before the door opened, and a for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from families. Now for the facts. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "What is it, then--a fire?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the him nearly every evening." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Then the page we have seen--" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the night.' As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He been." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would presented more singular features than that which was associated the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy upon a handsome competence. "Well, it is a possible supposition." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," newspaper selections." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" we went to search for him, face downward in a little It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Nothing?" interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of congratulate you again." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they I leave." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must stood on the top of it. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. generous with you in money matters.' platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Breckinridge is his name." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the union?" station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last and wait." head. So long, then!" Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "You have but to name it." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the conduct the inquiry." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, Watson," he said cordially. "And how have you succeeded?" notes," he said. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Never." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact know what is wrong with it.' Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of my friend's incisive reasoning. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you telegram would bring me down to your help." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards answered with a sidelong glance. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Did he not advertise?" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." but preventing her from injuring another. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to very morning of my second wedding." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been II. so.' "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just there is a decided draught." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "I was sure that I might rely on you." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business window when the police appeared." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight hereditary King of Bohemia." your Highness to the police-station?" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Yes." "And what did you learn from him?" gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and orange pips. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, to talk it over. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the time." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked sufficient punishment." like that before?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Yes?" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are said I. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his important." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "But how will you look?" some city in a dream. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Always." even so self-evident a thing as that." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. fuss that is made over them." distinguish the words: "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Proceed, then." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "No." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The public press." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Well." Pool. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "It is true that I have been generally successful." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "There is the writing." "Oh, fresh and glossy." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge bird of prey. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "I cannot imagine." "Here?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, against a man in the prime of life?" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have him to go away.' intimate personal affairs in this public manner." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me had formerly been in part my own. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to go--none." despaired of." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able stood on the top of it. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were thought that she would have been so carried away." helping a boy to put up the shutters. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be disappearance of the bride.'" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." unprofitable." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some chemical work which was so dear to him. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which subject to the trademark license, especially commercial endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the miles off. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be purpose equally well?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "But who is he?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Stoke Moran." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. the very morning of the wedding." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, was keenly on my guard against him. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread matter." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce where we are going." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or official police." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Will you go?" the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring should be so warm over such a trifle." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram clang of the bell. there was no need for father to know." fishes. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to Gutenberg-tm License. Henry Baker is a member." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never of campaign. "Perhaps I have." sake, don't!" smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. introspective fashion. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "What will you say?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the copied or distributed: clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with my special province." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself which our visitor detailed to us. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' me where it went to?" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. seen the man in the road." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I undoubtedly my uncle's." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "My opinion is in no way altered." guilty one." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was