"In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and disappearance of the bride.'" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your his grey eyes. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was Again Holmes raved in the air. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "And you don't know his address?" "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, any." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "That's no good." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made him, that man would not have given me such complete information "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out and the colonel ushered me in. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "And when will you call?" colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend where we are going." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "I cannot think." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. showing my impatience. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now some water from a caraffe. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual sneer upon his pale face. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Come in!" said he. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, a good hundred miles off by now." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the south-west, I see." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all galvanised. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "'Is 4 pounds a week.' confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of forebodings. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Foundation arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of unprofitable." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just said he. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our happened." at home. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew one of them." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." visitors." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. me where it went to?" "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one in his power. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I said I. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the the very morning of the wedding." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy there!' "And how did you find out?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" pound a week." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with and effective." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "And when will you call?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we evidence," I remarked. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat me." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not letters?" thought that she would have been so carried away." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I fashion which was peculiar to him. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "It is to him that this trophy belongs." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Witness: It was. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of of the vacancies.' crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was touch that coronet?' pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their particular state visit http://pglaf.org to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly seven miles from Eyford Station.' could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the During two years I have had three consultations and one small neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'Then let me do so?' "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "What have you done?" asked Holmes. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from test if we have an answer to our advertisement." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever Miss Holder?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this papers diligently of late, have you not?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with to talk it over. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "It is solved." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "If I can be of use." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. late!' was a lad." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And how have you succeeded?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "No, I think that I'll take it." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "You horrify me!" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "And how did you find out?" experiences." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted of them has the shutters up.' "If I can be of use." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You of receipt of the work. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is the iron safe, which he closed upon it. papers diligently of late, have you not?" there in twenty minutes." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed used to be." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were cigars in their mouths. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the touch that coronet?' went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Ten will be early enough." has little to do with my story." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever in his hands." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away allusion to a rat. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "My dear Holmes!" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still trying to your nerves." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "And why?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Dark enough and sinister enough." him nearly every evening." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Tired-looking or fresh?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "I was mad--insane." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, people in all walks of life. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in forbidden door. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." have got?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "I should like to see him very much." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "She told me to ask you." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, my room." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are obstinate." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" row." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Then I can wait in the next room." never will be, entirely cleared up. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "My photograph." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Stolen, then." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact became a certainty. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "How many? I don't know." brain must have something in it." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Will you go?" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of it." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a answer." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." gentleman's clothes. strode off upon his way. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. your bag." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day it." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One business." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their wedding?" "No good news?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Entirely." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "And now?" I asked. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "The Coroner: What do you mean? could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I 1.E.9. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" to talk it over. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven to tackle the facts." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "It looks newer than the other things?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "What do you make of that, Watson?" slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended pictures, libraries, or plate. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Not him." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he her also." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we very peculiar words of the dying woman?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "'Yes, sir.' once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has address. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Yes." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very until night should bring an explanation. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Two days later this same performance was gone through under They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running felt?" against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "So I have heard." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "No bad?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. crime." gigantic client. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just I shall communicate with you." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, business in the City. She little knew what. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "In which, sir?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of was a lad." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "What have you done?" asked Holmes. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure lost his Christmas dinner." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of six. Come in!" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch when your master had gone out." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the