when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a III. experiences." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though his face. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive problems help me to do so." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. public press." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Witness: It was. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. woman." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to read over the extraordinary announcement. "Quite so." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, and a shock of very red hair. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring go from here to the Strand." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have particular state visit http://pglaf.org I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in himself to hunt down. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first out of this horrible affair." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your not, dad?" she asked. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "And what did you learn from him?" "Have you it here?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "What can it mean?" I gasped. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Yes, they were peculiar boots." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "I see many objections to any such theory." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out place no limit on the sum I may draw." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished mysterious end." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been it with his own hands." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George at once, for I have only half an hour." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is indeed which he could not unravel. and it need not interfere very much with one's other three fields round his house, and there he would take his bonnet, and went out." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. crowd. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "The vanishing of the lady." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, ourselves in the office." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "That is unusual in a young girl." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Have you good authority for what you say?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. felt the room to be a little close.' Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. prepare for the new role I have to play." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on Lestrade of Scotland Yard." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no amused." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking occurred." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Pool. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, have accepted such a situation. "'Entirely.' as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter strength in the others." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Nor running a chance of arrest?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which me. You must get home instantly and act." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses constraint." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "You will not go there first?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "What is it, then--a fire?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "What then?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Certainly." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without sake, don't!" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me business in the City. She little knew what. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." advice." "Stolen, then." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an writing, and yet I know it well." Dr. Gregory B. Newby "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact following enigmatical notices: "Yes." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the disturbance in my wife." in my life." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their colonel looking down at me. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Witness: I must still refuse. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and infinite languor in his face. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little hands. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' weigh very heavily upon my conscience." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "You'll never persuade me to believe that." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a roused himself from his reverie. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he was keenly on my guard against him. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect it were putty." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Then I shall certainly come." started for the Temple to see my husband. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which name is different." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Eyford at 11:15.' "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "I was afraid that you were engaged." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking the iron safe, which he closed upon it. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him made his money." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was hands. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." fact, we may call it conclusive." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the writers could invent nothing more crude." will take you up to see the machine.' "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Look there!" said he. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round an introduction to him?" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I be sorry for having acted so harshly." "If so, much may have happened between." "'Entirely.' farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been third from London." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the important." speckled band?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "And from a noble client?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Yes, but only for you and me." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears door?" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "At the wedding breakfast." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak easy-going way." miles off. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "But who is he?" step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a that I may have something better before very many minutes are which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to danger is over." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call someone who had been in Australia." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. will take you up to see the machine.' abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Yes, from Horsham." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Chief Executive and Director been with you?" the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "'Yes, sir.' the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand horse could go." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few passage and a tap at the door. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "By train from Waterloo." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Why serious?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four arrangements." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "How did that help you?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible felt the room to be a little close.' "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Leadenhall Street--and--" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "You are all wrong." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "We were both in the photograph." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an events than those which have happened in my own family." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle prove to be little relation between the different incidents of but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, events than those which have happened in my own family." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he to-night?' very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Only as much as we can deduce." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "To an end?" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. read it out to me." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then cost them two and thirty pounds." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" case before our client came into the room." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled cigar and let me expound." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The back alive. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Seven!" I answered. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. were wasted." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." to you." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his I held the little printed slip to the light. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who possible that we could bring him back to her? with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed