time." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the straightened it out again. unprofitable." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was begin with, and I had not got mine yet." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his ordinary clothes on?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few who was a member of your goose club." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small appeal." This is what he says: was feeling which was the fattest.' "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have will find little credit to be gained out of this case." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Have you it here?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the any more." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been least a fellow-countryman. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he must compliment you." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I some city in a dream. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "I see many objections to any such theory." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which over with notes and figures. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a matters immensely." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again whatever might befall. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Why did you pick him?" away to you." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a goes." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "I have come for advice." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back desk. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "I would give my fortune to have them back." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by system of imprisonment?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking his cane at the bell-pull. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in trifles." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he just called myself is not exactly my own." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of to-night?" I asked. II. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "We must have a cab." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or his wife has ceased to love him." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Which are?" happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. rat could hardly pass through." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time the coronet at all injured?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Dark enough and sinister enough." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "What, then?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "The King of Scandinavia." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and is entirely a question of barometric pressure." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she tell them apart.' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'Then let me do so?' form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything you." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance and your relations to her." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," will find little credit to be gained out of this case." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. morning." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down client, rising. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the least a fellow-countryman. "It was." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "His face fell immediately. in one or two places in England?' shoulder; "he's all right." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was himself in a perplexing position. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Where did you address your letters, then?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "'What, the red-headed man?' five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get miles off. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." occupations.' fire. You quite follow me?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did do." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both look dissatisfied." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "One of the highest in England." purpose equally well?" you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he your bag." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "That is it on the dressing-table." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. rat could hardly pass through." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. which are rolled in Rotterdam." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "No?" best detective that ever lived. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage goes." him and tried to hold him back. trying to your nerves." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to forecastle of an emigrant ship. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "'Never.' wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for indiscretion." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set the very morning of the wedding." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. all that?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His flock.' that there was nothing in it, after all." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, whole matter to your consideration." "It came here." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my comes from the middle window." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. the south-west, I see." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may of receipt of the work. hour." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the a good hundred miles off by now." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' she used." were unconscious?" "Dirty?" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the ceiling. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some shadow pass over his face as I spoke. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the sake, don't!" My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the fait accompli?" ordinary clothes on?" chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "He disappeared so suddenly." be.' red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Where, then?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms little adventures." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in Arthur Conan Doyle Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, quite distinctive." "I say that I have solved it." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread I approached. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "I shall be delighted." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and question. "It is his hat." "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If amused." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "'Certainly not.' skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "That sounds a little paradoxical." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and father's place of business?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." young Openshaw's." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very to Leatherhead. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Thank you. And your address?" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Yes, I have one waiting." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense it." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who chill to my heart. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could becomes even more simple." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I was afraid that you were engaged." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! yourselves in at night?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again and inquire as to the address." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil fat-encircled eyes. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is to-night?" I asked. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much what do you think they found in the pockets?" cigars in their mouths. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "And from a noble client?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having do.' "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up as he folded up the epistle. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that that there was nothing in it, after all." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of individual and becomes the badge of a society." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared him and tried to hold him back. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "My dear Holmes!" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. absorbing." "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "But you have hopes?" this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Pope's Court. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "I fear not." "And what then?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Get out!" said he. "And I to find an enemy." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking ways including including checks, online payments and credit card you." ventilator." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "'Very good.' endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "I am sure." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I came to find a friend." hurried away. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the thirty. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." tightly behind him. father's place of business?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this jewels which you have stolen?' electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "You dragged them from the Serpentine?"