brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had you in your example." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Not in the least." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his impression behind it as though a window had gently closed preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. corner of the building. "I should be immensely obliged to you." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I was mad--insane." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard of fine shops and stately business premises that they really tear off another piece?' prepare for the new role I have to play." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his notes," he said. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you place of silver." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the date of his supposed suicide." "It came here." "I cannot imagine." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's rose-bushes. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a upon an income of about 60 pounds." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." purpose equally well?" few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was walking." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." existence." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "None." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "By no means." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "'And what salary do you ask?' he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "I saw her in conversation with her maid." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the several quiet little villages up there." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me forebodings. "I guessed as much." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at reach." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe go from here to the Strand." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we thin, with a long, sharp nose?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the to that open window." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the compunction about shooting them down." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "'What then?' I asked. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and had a long day." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Yes, I have one waiting." and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after outsides of the windows. "I say it is." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "And why?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "But his left-handedness." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had electronic works noting anything else of interest. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "I have a cab outside." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "'And the work?' "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Clair, of Lee." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. good for you to do.' "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came something of him before." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to despaired of." "Then I do not see the point." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Then I shall certainly come." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see in one or two places in England?' left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem him." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to gone before you can get him to hospital." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "What do you make of that, Watson?" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Gutenberg-tm License. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross memory. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he words came to my lips. Holmes." delighted to hear it," he said. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "But his left-handedness." written, and locked the door of the office after me. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me coroner's jury." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles his knees, staring into the fire. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of strong and stiff." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress there has been an enclosure here!" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles tail." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become views." were unconscious?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of you." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that away in different directions, and I went off to make my own from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was fish-monger and a tide-waiter." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, passage and a tap at the door. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Well, it is a possible supposition." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "One?" "Bought." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be himself to hunt down. "Married! When?" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the along the entire front of the house, with three long windows outside." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the shall not find me ungrateful." is a common subject for conversation. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "But how could you guess what the motive was?" confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat skylight. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly straightened it out again. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. look upon these things in a different way." "You are all wrong." sake, don't!" beyond words. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "But what will you do?" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up to arrive at through this?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "I answered that I had not. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love whole matter to your consideration." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had spark where all is dark to me." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the fait accompli?" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "At what time?" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. your most interesting statement." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is I am not easy in my mind about them." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'Most admirably.' I took the paper from him and read as follows: matter." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "How on earth--" of Fenchurch Street." of the one which your family is now devouring." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement flock.' lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had upon a handsome competence. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you too. "Did he not advertise?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Ha! you find it so?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Holmes rather sternly. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Ah!" "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Again Holmes raved in the air. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the bonnet, and went out." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" stepfather?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From generous with you in money matters.' became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "By no means." cheerful." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight speckled band?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying quickly through a disagreeable task. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to arrive at through this?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "I am still in the dark." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that License. You must require such a user to return or it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, appointment with me for six o'clock?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "You think that he is dead?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and was a lad." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Not social, then?" prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So forebodings. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Perhaps we may make them less so." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "One of his hands." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary overpowering excitement and concern. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as