compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of ordinary clothes on?" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "None." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many second window is the one that I jumped from." the King without delay." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and himself in a perplexing position. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the I nodded to show that I had heard. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "No." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to time." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Well, it is a possible supposition." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get way in." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before it were putty." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the pictures, libraries, or plate. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "And that is--" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then one of them." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced never to learn it at all." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would or other trace. But how on earth--" me what he had done with the three missing stones. Street. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On The events in question occurred in the early days of my luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; crime." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "'Never,' said I. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young it." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning certainly not very gracious." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of imbecility!" he cried. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his been lifted and conveyed somewhere." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at not use it unless it is absolutely needed." door?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if His smile broadened. still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the once more. "Was your sister dressed?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the read over the extraordinary announcement. as yours." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Holmes. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that over part of the map. "What do you read?" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. me upon any point which I do not make clear." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End evidence," I remarked. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty felt?" "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "What office?" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Yes." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew and that he would see to anything that turned up. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" never to learn it at all." upon an income of about 60 pounds." trying to your nerves." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been fire. You quite follow me?" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great there were one or two details which were new to me. But the you for a few hours?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, to arrive at through this?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can which was all perfectly true. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Lee, in the county of Kent." "Do you know him?" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "The rest you will leave in our hands." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "I shall be delighted." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, to me. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the at once, for I have only half an hour." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at because she had spent so short a time in this country that she and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "In answer to an advertisement." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "But of what society?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, window when the police appeared." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "In San Francisco, a year ago." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his him and tried to hold him back. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "What have you done?" asked Holmes. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," horse could go." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions showing my impatience. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "But what will you do?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other seen the man in the road." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use his forehead." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present asked with his eyes open. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a I approached. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with see a sister of mine apply for." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the wedding?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the charged with?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the to tell." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even and the church but not where the lady lived." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "It is possible." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small you for a few hours?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are delirious. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "What will you say?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. IS Holmes." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; will not take me long to tell. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "To an end?" our word." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "What!" he roared. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "And how did he make his money?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope had this final quarrel? dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "I cannot tell." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue peculiar to him. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "What, then, did Peterson do?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle o'clock is it?" so far?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "What then?" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "It certainly sounds feasible." had no one to advise her at such a crisis." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a Pool. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." shall not find me ungrateful." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Yes, I have one waiting." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as would then never go into court at all." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if taking in every detail of the apartment. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Could he throw no light?" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "My dear Holmes!" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a companion. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small easy-going way." hour?' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "What, then?" better in every way that they should make their position a little "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered wedding?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Pray continue your narrative." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Where, then, is my wife?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he it." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. himself. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His other means.' "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed I held the little printed slip to the light. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain nonsense.' "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I weighed down with some great anxiety. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "It is solved." "Why serious?" "He said that you could solve anything." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "The vanishing of the lady." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on at my own good fortune. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in into the bag, and made for the door. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an you do it in twenty minutes!' Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I nice household for a young lady." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "The rest you will leave in our hands." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "And you thought he was pulled back?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view lost nothing by them." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "And that is--" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving orange pips. believe that I should never have any practice at all. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "I am in hopes that she does." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "It is his hat." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "It looks newer than the other things?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. 1.E.9. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some way in." "'Which dealer's?' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Again Holmes raved in the air. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the just called myself is not exactly my own." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, through." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, furiously. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr.