and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Surrey." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your hour?' lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried question you as to those details which seem to me to be most Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "At what time?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Cross for the Continent." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was highly," said Holmes. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." me. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm said I. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "10th. John Swain cleared. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it legal crime." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the best of training." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to drove away. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Yes." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two his forehead." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "No, thank goodness, she did not." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Why did you beat the pavement?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "On the contrary, this is the right side." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of acted in my house last night?" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I all?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step of your young ladies.' "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt look upon these things in a different way." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to any." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake at my remark. noble correspondent could be. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "BALLARAT." eat it." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "But to whom?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "No, I had a dozen." make me his representative both with the servants and with the pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek singular points about the case. What did the police think of the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." business at Coburg Square is serious." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "What will you do, then?" Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some His name is Francis Prosper." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really of the efforts of the United States government and of the better see me here to avoid scandal." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "'Which dealer's?' upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people burst into a hearty fit of laughter. your sleep?' developed." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "My last client of the sort was a king." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no it." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular Clair, of Lee." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Holmes' room. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow undoubtedly my uncle's." presume?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. past. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "'And the work?' "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Not particularly." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when over his head with a sweet womanly caress. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. What do you deduce from it?" the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged what is your own theory as to what took place?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Yes." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to directors, with the result that you have seen." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses voice, changing her seat as requested. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "And you thought he was pulled back?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "In the cells." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "10th. John Swain cleared. me." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my that, and I came down." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten said I. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of out." of campaign. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "'What do you call purely nominal?' dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of it means?" James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows This is what he says: heavy and sharp instrument." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at someone who had been in Australia." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." existence." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, be.' chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "No, thank goodness, she did not." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared examination of the premises, but without finding anything which distinguish the words: "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and have I gained?" might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." once more. depend upon my doing so.' cigars in their mouths. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock tail." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "The landlord of the Alpha." Pope's Court. tail." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "That is possible." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search conceal it?" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's problems help me to do so." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this But Holmes shook his head gravely. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." I shall communicate with you." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." Again Holmes raved in the air. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with pictures, libraries, or plate. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, fled together." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it very morning of my second wedding." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "It is very clear." "I shall most certainly do so." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any your troubles." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "And why?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk was a loud and authoritative tap. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" client, rising. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same late." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the little opening for the ventilator is." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "He disappeared so suddenly." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not you." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a had no one to advise her at such a crisis." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." mysterious business." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or frequently gained my first real insight into the character of once more for Briony Lodge. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive believe that I should never have any practice at all. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with and glanced through. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "But you can know nothing of this?" "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to chill to my heart. rat could hardly pass through." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Breckinridge is his name." events, Mr. Windibank!" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "It must be recovered." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Holmes' room. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he open." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "ARAT," I read. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Look there!" said he. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Look there!" said he. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home individual and becomes the badge of a society." placed his cuttings. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "'I have heard so.' With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address an introduction to him?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was was used.' exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "I cannot imagine." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the Assizes." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of than to us. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "'A dozen yards or so.' ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "And on what day did he meet his death?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "If I can be of use." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when sufficient punishment." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I brought there to personate someone, and the real person is He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." one else, I think." "How did that help you?" weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every child?' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless