o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. child?' "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." it right.' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out the inner apartment." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "But what will you do?" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel crackling voice. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that his knees, staring into the fire. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his the coronet in his hands?" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a over here." "Then, how do you know?" "'You doubt its value?' he asked. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Why did you pick him?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local had died away into the silence from which it rose. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect that there was nothing in it, after all." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the be best to do. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power it? Did I buy the geese off you?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by and your relations to her." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "And why in hopes?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. be sorry for having acted so harshly." at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man companion quietly. key of the affair now." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much name is different." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, at a side door. sufficient punishment." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "Bought." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in within hail.' most interesting one." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." McCarthy's innocence. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Nothing." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "But what is it you wish?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Yes, sir." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through page at http://pglaf.org ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Pray do so." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Thank you. Pray proceed." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life charge against him will break down." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the she to prove their authenticity?" Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "No, my brougham is waiting." ran thus: "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "10th. John Swain cleared. "None." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and round with crates and massive boxes. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the union?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "To an end?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Yes, I have one waiting." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are him to go away.' "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and present." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! had this final quarrel? lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in interests were the same as his." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become go back?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A digesting their breakfasts at home." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between manager. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Certainly." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." maid will bring up your coffee." "Married! When?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The becomes even more simple." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "The decline of his fortunes, then?" out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' furiously. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been 'please.'" you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through garden below. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Munro.' intrusion of other matters." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the persecution?" breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "But of what society?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "'What would be the hours?' I asked. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the never will be, entirely cleared up. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to woman." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Who was the criminal, then?" "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this so far?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that help us in this matter." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the electronic works notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, your room." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "You have compromised yourself seriously." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this ran thus: places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of really the only notable feature about the thing." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' distance from the station, and there we found the young lady form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. anything to do with the matter?" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the hurried away. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "We must have a cab." footfalls from the street. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the you?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he clanging. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Yes." "Then, how do you know?" was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Were they all fastened this morning?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Certainly." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Precisely." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "It is possible." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me without success. At last the little money which I had saved began A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No together. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "'Never,' said I. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded without a word or a look. his wife has ceased to love him." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning your billet.' "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Not in the least." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "I am following you closely," I answered. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards showing my impatience. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that neither fascinating nor artistic." voice. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's asked with his eyes open. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call most interesting one." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently mysterious business." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I have a cab outside." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very and capable of preserving a secret.' morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was straightened it out again. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Ha! you find it so?" floor. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" too. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the come either from the window or the door. My attention was "One of his hands." would apply.' strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next the devil!" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Murdered?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it woven round him. "It must be recovered." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while at a side door. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "To an English lawyer named Norton." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial light and attacked it." residence of the great financier. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "What is it?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness here." congenial hunt. "I fear not." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. it with his own hands." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing You can understand that this register and diary may implicate public press." humiliation." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who II. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really the warnings." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" works. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took against a man in the prime of life?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'And the work?' his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the his forehead." "Then how many are there?" "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "What is it, then--a fire?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled works. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project occupations.' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming reach." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded I am not easy in my mind about them." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with take the flies, but not before." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Does that suggest anything?" cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he disturbance in my wife." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable six. Come in!" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I how narrow had been my escape. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, cheerful." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever to go into your room and bar your shutters?" clang of the bell. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater are windows in it, of course?" might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Mary, has deserted me." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Dark enough and sinister enough." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I will, Miss Turner." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I knowledge of the world." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger and looked back. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was of his shoulders. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes imbecility!" he cried. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "No good news?" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so call the police, let the police find what they can.' "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the lectures into a series of tales." Have you good authority for what you say?" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in someone who had been in Australia." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary