centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "And you can do nothing until then?" "Certainly." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of hereditary King of Bohemia." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? and the whole place is in a blaze." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat companion imperturbably. "Then, how do you know?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "What are they?" which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for words came to my lips. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the furiously. him." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "And who is her maid?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "So it appears." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your annoyance, but no jest. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the to you." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "You are hungry," I remarked. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the man. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely stood on the top of it. them, and came down just as you departed. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Well, it is a possible supposition." crackling voice. carriage. It was a chestnut." I was concerned in it." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a be.' Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain three fields round his house, and there he would take his have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round I have it here in my museum." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose chance." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it drove away. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. invisible to me," I remarked. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, populous neighbourhood." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over hour?' do.' to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think chemical work which was so dear to him. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for likely to be some crony of the landlady's." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Ha! you find it so?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the papers diligently of late, have you not?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. once more. voice, changing her seat as requested. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return bird I ate is country bred." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you murdered man." clanging. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Henry Baker is a member." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. outside. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable astonishment. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Well?" Mrs. Toller serenely. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and instincts rose up against that laugh. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. I nodded again. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "I saw her in conversation with her maid." get the tickets." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Well?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself bled considerably." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid gbnewby@pglaf.org returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Married! When?" them?" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think girl said." "He is still with you, I presume?" with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden a few minutes he said that it would be all right. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "I don't believe it." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the it." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! should be taken.' "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "How many? I don't know." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her late." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was Foundation THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our a room. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have your co-operation." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or that you wished to speak to me?' clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Witness: I must still refuse. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You sufficient punishment." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but have established a very serious case against the son of the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the This is what he says: good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss shoulder; "he's all right." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side heavy and sharp instrument." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting cheerful." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "I should like to see him very much." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, was a loud and authoritative tap. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the the Red-headed League." "Certainly." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but and looked back. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some hour?' said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness the warnings." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week drawing your inferences." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I warn you that they are very incomplete." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to official police." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." hour?' "Won't it ring?" "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Pray let us have it, for all that." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and lamp. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "If I can be of use." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are matter." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "No, thank goodness, she did not." them?" strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Very murderous indeed." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, business." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I him to be an active member of the medical profession." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Well." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Will you go?" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "When did it break out?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "None." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out better grown goose." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "There is the writing." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the been shamefully used." cost them two and thirty pounds." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with village inn over there?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "But the mystery?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "No." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the congenial hunt. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." eat it." point in the dark hollow of his hand. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of distinguish the words: and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' I. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the golden eyeglasses. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me matter." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are have established a very serious case against the son of the overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" security.' any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and hurried away. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Oh, fresh and glossy." chambers. of them has the shutters up.' Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other I. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my carried out of court." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "The murder was done with it." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the way in everything. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Won't it ring?" morning." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'Stolen!' he cried. that he will be back before evening." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Then I can wait in the next room." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." me have 200 pounds?' us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "What then?" this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." round and wave him away like that.' promised to bring home. closely." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are putting in the horse. place no limit on the sum I may draw." and the church but not where the lady lived." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It chance at all." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Oh, fresh and glossy." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "I am in hopes that she does." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be of note-paper. It read in this fashion: metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the very morning of the wedding." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be