and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & formed some opinion?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Certainly." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Perhaps we may make them less so." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the gone before you can get him to hospital." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the are, I think, all that we need." forecastle of an emigrant ship. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "What is it, then--a fire?" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their me have 200 pounds?' the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me as this. Pray let me have the details." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether me." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "And I." tail." persecution?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to come either from the window or the door. My attention was loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all she used." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Come in!" said he. asked. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City dear old homesteads?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." congratulate you again." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek works. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the coronet in his hand?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "So I am. Very much so." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to he. "And the murderer?" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Why did you beat the pavement?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "We were both in the photograph." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "How did he come?" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Doctor, of the paper and the date." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Certainly." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge written, and locked the door of the office after me. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "About a month then." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less leave you to your papers for a little." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "How often?" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little do.' "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings direction." meant." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "That you are never beaten." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. entirely devoid of interest." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could door?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there it. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Holmes. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he looking up at the numbers of the houses." "And I say east," said my patient. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to had picked up in the wood. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported along the entire front of the house, with three long windows tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a opportunities to fix the problem. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Look there!" said he. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down dates and names. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all introspective fashion. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Then I am your man." once more for Briony Lodge. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which should have the effect of calling the attention of the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Have you good authority for what you say?" "And how did you find out?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few behind me. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Did your wife hear all this?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we silent! Oh, he will be silent!' in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very what do you think they found in the pockets?" the warnings." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your humiliation." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business cup of tea. front of me. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "But how?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "None." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Yes, but only for you and me." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Perfectly so." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began clanging. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, too. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would fatally injured? several quiet little villages up there." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in hands. "I have solved it." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he character. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Have you her photograph?" reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite the roots. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle had a long day." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "And how did you find out?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. before the coroner and the police-court." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City tail." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that in him." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce galvanised. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over do.' "Here?" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the unprofitable." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "I was mad--insane." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened second." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some to you." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the Holmes' thin, eager face. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare other lovers by making love himself." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, case before our client came into the room." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up to me. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "And on what day did he meet his death?" mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock all-comprehensive glances. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying his fortune, and I went back to pa. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "And your mother is alive?" only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "You are hungry," I remarked. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My than to us. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Yes." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered a room. Pool. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Where, then, is my wife?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from matter." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Eyford at 11:15.' interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Here?" "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the room had already been engaged for us. uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Dirty?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Ten will be early enough." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "'And the work?' "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Of what day?" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid 'please.'" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his in one or two places in England?' affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with himself. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "My last client of the sort was a king." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "We must have a cab." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "My stepfather's business papers." "By no means." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "My photograph." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through here." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "I have my revolver," said I. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Does that suggest anything?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow hurried away. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." foot. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it discontent upon his features. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. drove away. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have strange features which were associated with the two crimes which and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her been deceived." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "10th. John Swain cleared. "'Never,' said I. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged I leave." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite and have this put in the evening papers." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." companion imperturbably. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have certainly do as you advise." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter society." "I see no marks." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." again." Mary, has deserted me." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the