extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, despair." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was his knees, staring into the fire. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been several quiet little villages up there." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." of the one which your family is now devouring." least a fellow-countryman. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this husband's writing, madam." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses later, upon the night of May 2nd." one of them." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in ashen face. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Who was the criminal, then?" A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is directly by questioning you." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of bearing upon the case." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "And I say east," said my patient. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded than was visible to me." "Certainly." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the roused himself from his reverie. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the back alive. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make cup of tea. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across drawing your inferences." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Yes." questioning and rather startled gaze. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "How often?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "And for present expenses?" eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it cigar and let me expound." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to writers could invent nothing more crude." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the foot. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "An accident, I presume?" not, dad?" she asked. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Perhaps we may make them less so." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy infinite languor in his face. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. said he. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated there." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "I have seen the police." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her least a fellow-countryman. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a get her out of the way." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, were unconscious?" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a to take care of herself." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Texas, I think." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" question. out." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So with you alone." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy on in his house." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in intimate personal affairs in this public manner." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose taking in every detail of the apartment. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, bill, which interests me deeply." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "The King of Scandinavia." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "You have compromised yourself seriously." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. putting in the horse. other lovers by making love himself." morning." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "And why?" hurried away. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "But you have hopes?" "It is half-past ten now." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'And what are they worth?' I asked. DISSOLVED. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I you want, then?' the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless there!' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "I am armed." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "And I." me. You must get home instantly and act." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His notes," he said. in his power. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Murdered?" know what is wrong with it.' "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven answer." "'And what salary do you ask?' and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and Serpentine Avenue. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "No good news?" that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday hands. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly McCarthy." persecution?" showing my impatience. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they shall use the carriage to-night." "She showed me, as I told you she would." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "You are hungry," I remarked. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Holmes. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "It missed him, then?" mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one papers on the sundial.'" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned depend upon your compliance." "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I and it need not interfere very much with one's other The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "That you are never beaten." and no precautions can guard against." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of DAMAGE. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "That also I could fathom." "That is unusual in a young girl." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Your sister is dead, then?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "This photograph!" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The never will be, entirely cleared up. indeed happy." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will forbidden door. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. hardly wander." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "'Why that?' I asks. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own that there was nothing in it, after all." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect way in." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that this Miss Turner." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "That is unusual in a young girl." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though meanly of me." writers could invent nothing more crude." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon goes." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the over here." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no criminal. We have already had experience of such." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 fasten all the windows?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman were wasted." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Not particularly." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it is a common subject for conversation. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "By no means." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "He disappeared so suddenly." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "If so, much may have happened between." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found bedroom door." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case this Miss Turner." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other three fields round his house, and there he would take his Henry Baker is a member." the salesman. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Ample." in this way: product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." forebodings. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, annoyance, but no jest. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming that I am arrested." entirely lost his self-respect." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the Sutherland. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "'I have heard so.' "I say it is." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" recover the gem." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but there was no need for father to know." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, suddenly upon us." father's young wife. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "And when will you call?" "But how did you gain them?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Arthur Conan Doyle discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to spare." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided against a man in the prime of life?" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the secret." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a your most interesting statement." "I am armed." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." persecution?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. article?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in bill, which interests me deeply." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of know that the truth is known." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, our word." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his late." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done