laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly way in everything. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily could not account in any way for the presence of the missing sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very stood on the top of it. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone strong and stiff." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "'Which dealer's?' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in with you?" "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only nothing with him." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the asked with his eyes open. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Murdered?" "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Well?" success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "And why?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. tell him that I know him to be innocent." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and salesman. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we question. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out manager. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they way: already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Certainly." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "I have come for advice." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to the one as in the other." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Lee, in the county of Kent." flock.' "No, distinctly professional." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir people in all walks of life. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but and inquire as to the address." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "He said that you could solve anything." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang our word." "Did he not advertise?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Then, as to money?" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and not come at once?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an overpowering excitement and concern. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were the Assizes." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to written. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been away in different directions, and I went off to make my own up this clue while it is still hot." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much to-night's adventure." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he said Mr. Holder. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "That is it on the dressing-table." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal speckled band?" eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded likely to be some crony of the landlady's." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Henry Baker is a member." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At there were so many in the whole country as were brought together you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at answered with a sidelong glance. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. a good hundred miles off by now." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "My dear Holmes!" My friend smiled. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling returned to France?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "And why?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Why did you pick him?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "Game for a morning drive?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then plantation.' "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner just ask you whether you had heard it.' and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit daring than any effort of the imagination." overpowering excitement and concern. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple both be extremely obliged.' remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "What shall I do?" "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of in one or two places in England?' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to just called myself is not exactly my own." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of chambers. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a will he say when he returns?" Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the little opening for the ventilator is." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never letters?" its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting My friend smiled. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "He might." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "By no means." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker secret." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "I cannot imagine." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider desk. had a long day." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he bed dies. Does not that strike you?" License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she his fortune, and I went back to pa. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." and the whole place is in a blaze." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, there in twenty minutes." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to other means.' "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that rat could hardly pass through." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I noble correspondent could be. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to hair?' "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen fact, we may call it conclusive." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, already referred to. "I assure you that I am in your hands." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without you want, then?' along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of bell. Holmes whistled. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "He is dead," cried several voices. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most again." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held from the brougham. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Stoke Moran." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to lids now and glanced across at his visitor. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, if only as a check to my own memory." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I and put his glass in his pocket. before, for it was considerably after midnight. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while observed. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or have been better. It is all right." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "What have you to say now?" for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at clanging. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "My photograph." me. certainly do as you advise." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Where, indeed?" some water from a caraffe. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think are windows in it, of course?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Mrs. Toller serenely. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture of this gang." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this done what I asked you, Jones?" It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I noting anything else of interest. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' during the last few years, and there are many noble families to of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few imbecility!" he cried. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he the inner apartment." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle it. works. See paragraph 1.E below. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was recall any case within my experience which looked at the first there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is promised to bring home. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "'Entirely.' them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" row." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to so far?" law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "And I to find an enemy." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the said he. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass that, and I came down." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Well." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "'There is a drive, then?' Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible on re-entering her father's house?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "It is very kind of you." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "I will not look." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'Quite sure, dad.' endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and walking." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately views." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "I shall most certainly do so." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had o'clock is it?" were unconscious?" defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have highroad, where all traces were lost. "'Where could I find him?' "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She attention." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "When did she vanish, then?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of present strange and interesting features that it is no easy morning." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day upon the white wrist. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may events, Mr. Windibank!" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately for its centre. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "'Yes.' "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "I see no marks." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "I don't believe it." forebodings. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO stepfather?" "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you which it had come upon my father." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "I warn you that they are very incomplete."