habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a was a perfect sample of the class. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "That is easily got." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Oh, fresh and glossy." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. me. You must get home instantly and act." what do you think they found in the pockets?" steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid man. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is to affect your life." posted to-day." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and fuss that is made over them." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed bears upon the case?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely wanted for ourselves." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was already referred to. what is your own theory as to what took place?" "'As governess?' leaning back in his chair. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the come either from the window or the door. My attention was woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to in a friendly supper." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Indeed! Whose, then?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Seven!" I answered. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the becomes even more simple." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the without success. At last the little money which I had saved began would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob will find little credit to be gained out of this case." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had which was all perfectly true. "Yes, from Horsham." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "I was afraid that you were engaged." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Then, as to money?" death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' read over the extraordinary announcement. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was trifles." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Watson," he said cordially. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is just called myself is not exactly my own." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should pierced for earrings?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing returned to France?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for threw himself down with his face to the pillow. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler a room. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that kindly on the shoulder. with some details as to your case." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, disappearance of the bride.'" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as introspective fashion. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. putting in the horse. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, how narrow had been my escape. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my burst out into a roar of laughter. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, bell. Holmes whistled. cigar and let me expound." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "But of what society?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. DISSOLVED. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be we went to search for him, face downward in a little d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce bare slabs of marble. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "No bad?" at home. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding unclasping of his long thin hands. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your only touch the interest." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy for securing the situation." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a lamp in his hand. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Yes, certainly." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door formed some opinion?" know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, coroner's jury." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and of Mr. Rucastle's." nonsense.' "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw woman." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "He disappeared so suddenly." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Witness: It was. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the station." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Where, indeed?" 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend are, I think, all that we need." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it himself to tell his story. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the direction." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way The events in question occurred in the early days of my "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Indeed! Whose, then?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "'Ample.' vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "I know where it is." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or away to you." his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Well." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "But she will refuse." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Now, then, what's the last entry?" some terrible trap for her." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," which we had just quitted. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to a very grave face. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well right! Sit down and let us talk it over." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "No. What a strange idea!" there was no need for father to know." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the affection." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "And your mother is alive?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like morning." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet about. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before do.' huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "By train from Waterloo." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had your bag." "My stepfather's business papers." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old woven round him. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Nothing." "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting such person." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "To an end?" which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Precisely." to a light-house. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "That's no good." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Then what has happened to him?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "I will try. What is it?" to some other building. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to children over to America with him, so that I found myself without her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." too. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time means taking possession of that which another person has a prior and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "My dear Holmes!" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that what is your own theory as to what took place?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the waste of energy." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes felt the room to be a little close.' even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Then the page we have seen--" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed important." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and to you." question," said Holmes, smiling. stood on the top of it. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin asked with his eyes open. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into must compliment you." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Yes." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Did you become engaged then?" upon the sideboard." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make later, upon the night of May 2nd." hereditary King of Bohemia." and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which points in connection with it which never have been, and probably property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a His smile broadened. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Can I be of assistance?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The so.' "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "I will try. What is it?" a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his maid will bring up your coffee." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "No more words. Get out!" who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found works. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common three fields round his house, and there he would take his it. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Arthur Conan Doyle battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "What then?" clanging. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Entirely." "That sounds a little paradoxical." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter it." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something him, that man would not have given me such complete information might have a private word with us. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Yes." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. as he folded up the epistle. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "The knees of his trousers." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more very morning of my second wedding." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Certainly." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she it with his own hands." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as new acquaintance to Baker Street. I held the little printed slip to the light. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town the stable lane now." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. key turn in the lock." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Then the page we have seen--" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new strode off upon his way. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "You think so, too?" my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "It came here." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "In heaven's name, what for?"