observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen Cross for the Continent." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is will take you up to see the machine.' "At what time?" been with you?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and chair. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a overpowering excitement and concern. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "I would pay ten." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of criminal. We have already had experience of such." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "'What do you call purely nominal?' daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the dangers which encompass me." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was Does that suggest anything?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "And Irene Adler?" "What, then?" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated whatever might befall. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." opportunities to fix the problem. the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it nonsense.' man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, ready to-morrow?' of this gang." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, the best of training." "What have you to say now?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." hurried away. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "I do." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than you?" sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in to me. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "It was a confession," I ejaculated. bonnet, and went out." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was with you alone." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "I warn you that they are very incomplete." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Yes." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. written. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "10th. John Swain cleared. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with which we had just quitted. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely that the gas is not laid on in his house?" was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as notes," he said. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with see a sister of mine apply for." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty meanly of me." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was voice, changing her seat as requested. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left this Miss Turner." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle green of the new foliage. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I have solved it." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with floor. and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not had this final quarrel? course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor and that he would see to anything that turned up. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey matters immensely." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "When did it break out?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found congratulate you again." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in looking up at the numbers of the houses." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much even so self-evident a thing as that." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey asked with his eyes open. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." fear." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. grasp, he hurried from the room. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I will try. What is it?" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go was a perfect sample of the class. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "What will you say?" and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the his knees, staring into the fire. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "'What would be the hours?' I asked. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that to tell." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a could not account in any way for the presence of the missing believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, shaken than I had ever seen him. the King without delay." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried to miss it." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "It is solved." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest meant." "And I say east," said my patient. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "And Irene Adler?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "That sounds a little paradoxical." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of corner of the building. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that 11:15.' five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Has he come with you to-night?" "Who by?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, if only as a check to my own memory." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "I will do it." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was business?" cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, Street. "Yes, at the mines." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it new duties?' reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have or other trace. But how on earth--" if only as a check to my own memory." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by think that he is innocent?" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there floor. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his 1.E.9. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an October 9, 1890. "You know me, then?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, against a man in the prime of life?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. It may be so in this case, also." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the general public were present, then?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises and all of them with the keenest interest. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Was there a secret marriage?" which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "How are you getting on?" "'Then let me do so?' precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "The vanishing of the lady." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after again, where I was soon asleep. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began License. You must require such a user to return or our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up brought there to personate someone, and the real person is out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less of the way of danger. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of success. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Literary Archive Foundation "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "I have solved it." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. may never be exposed to such a temptation." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a or other trace. But how on earth--" was feeling which was the fattest.' along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his pictures, libraries, or plate. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but said I. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "9th. McCauley cleared. secret." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, that, and I came down." "And leave your case unfinished?" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Then he might have called to you?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and client, rising. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "I cannot imagine." "Certainly." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Why did you beat the pavement?" the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as and it need not interfere very much with one's other been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Yes, all." "And I." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my coroner's jury." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Doctor, of the paper and the date." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Well, but China?" "I am about to be married." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set are, I think, all that we need." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you indiscretion." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. to-night." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "You horrify me." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Ample." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "But how?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" orange pips. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Sutherland?" "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now not fit the lock." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project suddenly upon us." "I answered that I had not. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Yes." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual your equipment. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is very morning of my second wedding." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. developed." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in writing, and yet I know it well." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at http://www.gutenberg.net could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room in a very precise fashion." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well