"Pray be precise as to details," said he. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid looking up at the numbers of the houses." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "'Certainly not. But why?' terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," as the one I chose?' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature business matters.' "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Can I be of assistance?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the thin legs towards the fire. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "How are you getting on?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the companion. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the coronet in his hands?" Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a business came to an end." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell impression behind it as though a window had gently closed whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The dead, shall be safe with us." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a advice." out." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net train.' the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen least a fellow-countryman. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Quite so. She has her freedom." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every you give your casting vote to?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope father's place of business?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Why did you beat the pavement?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room rooms." this Miss Turner." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. of campaign. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two photograph a cabinet?" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "She showed me, as I told you she would." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "One of his hands." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. any." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she chance." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face even so self-evident a thing as that." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt the roots. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, morning." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the someone who had been in Australia." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "'What are you doing there?' he asked. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She lost his Christmas dinner." "Your sister is dead, then?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local I leave." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "I will do it." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the be.' no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for ordinary clothes on?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he late." directors, with the result that you have seen." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "And you don't know his address?" mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my spare." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each the stones. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus bore every mark of being an average commonplace British than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Breckinridge is his name." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was before the coroner and the police-court." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the bird of prey. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its said Mr. Holder. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, lost nothing by them." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "No. His orders were to stay in the house." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point door?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the you understand?" grasp, he hurried from the room. "'Certainly not. But why?' "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, ready to-morrow?' turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and be. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing shoulder; "he's all right." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of roused himself from his reverie. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "And that is--" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "It's nothing of the kind." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet which our visitor detailed to us. outsides of the windows. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Heh?' "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Really! You surprise me." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which society." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "How on earth--" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "The Cedars?" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "What! a murderous attack?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I families. Now for the facts. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "'Most admirably.' possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "What do you mean?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of It was close upon four before the door opened, and a you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds with frightened eyes at his accuser. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Who was the criminal, then?" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "It is solved." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. made his money." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Why? What do you mean?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "The gentleman I describe." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "'I have already given you my word.' "How did he come?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it this Miss Turner." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Her father is very rich?" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Perfectly so." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, there." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for him!" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "You horrify me." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and has little to do with my story." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent of Mr. Rucastle's." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the matter." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could nights." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Yes." "I would give my fortune to have them back." of campaign. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the meant." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Heh?' bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "But we can't all be." spare." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after fluttered off among the others. had formerly been in part my own. "It is possible." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "What can you not understand?" chambers. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, forbidden door. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me question. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become entirely devoid of interest." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Do you go out much in society?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "'Certainly,' I answered. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward it." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of awkward doing business with an alias." straightened it out again. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Surrey." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in soul! here is her carriage at the door." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point felt?" spark where all is dark to me." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Who by?" his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have pierced for earrings?" consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter pictures, libraries, or plate. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of fact, we may call it conclusive." correct than the official force." nothing of it?" to miss it." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "You have compromised yourself seriously." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in congenial hunt. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any the dangers which encompass me." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid any little problem which you may submit to me." purpose equally well?" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Yes. He waved his hands." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of you came in." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Street. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in would apply.' his huge brown hands. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." foot. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and problems help me to do so." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Well, it is a possible supposition." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. you." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. the ceiling. introspective fashion. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great room?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "BALLARAT." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself is worth.' "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. bird of prey. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk