only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the were unconscious?" they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in obstinate." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Very murderous indeed." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson evidence," I remarked. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "The knees of his trousers." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the voice, changing her seat as requested. "But the mystery?" had formerly been in part my own. "Certainly, madam." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco arrangements." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. were wasted." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine bell. Holmes whistled. "I will, Miss Turner." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," investigation." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was before the coroner and the police-court." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "He is dead," cried several voices. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a success. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "I cannot as yet see any connection." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the round with crates and massive boxes. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the fatally injured? are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project married her." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "But how?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in garden below. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine I approached. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master test if we have an answer to our advertisement." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "It is half-past ten now." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Very murderous indeed." of them has the shutters up.' should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Dr. Becher's." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and go--none." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into where we are going." "No more words. Get out!" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a chair. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "My photograph." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I cannot tell." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was detective. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that appointment with me for six o'clock?" Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Yes, the wine-cellar." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "What will you do, then?" "None." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just the warnings." appeal." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Holmes' face clouded over. been." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the clanging. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such cup of tea. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such III. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Project Gutenberg-tm works. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Yes." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "No." "It is solved." the devil!" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Your presence might be invaluable." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger have established a very serious case against the son of the myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from his face. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Clair, of Lee." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well in the dead of the night?' greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on IS should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "A thing like a cleaver," said he. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through to-night." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "There is the writing." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Yes." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned what these perils are?" lost his Christmas dinner." important." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." and that he would see to anything that turned up. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof nights." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "No, but the enclosure is." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "He might." something of him before." foot. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Certainly." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But anything to do with the matter?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "On Monday." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of had picked up in the wood. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "And how have you succeeded?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I warn you that they are very incomplete." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present money should be paid at once.' deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "And now?" I asked. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and writing, and yet I know it well." gone. emerged. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Street. "It must be recovered." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a there!' pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "But he might be a bachelor." floor. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of details." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Countess of Morcar's?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Then the page we have seen--" "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my one of the states of the Union." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The things are very often connected not with the larger but with the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Could he throw no light?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "No good news?" "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a over with notes and figures. official police." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon The note was undated, and without either signature or address. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now you?' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Certainly." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually said he. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Holmes rather sternly. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I outbreak?" afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the running down." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, with you alone." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' have had none more fantastic than this." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled shadow pass over his face as I spoke. But Holmes shook his head gravely. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself cost them two and thirty pounds." "You will not go there first?" London for the present?" your co-operation." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came that he has suffered." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "But I am all in the dark." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck to a light-house. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of cause to be." For additional contact information: There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I and wait." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a triumphant cloud from his cigarette. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am tied." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "I am about to be married." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I prisoner's face. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue pierced for earrings?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the King without delay." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "I beg pardon." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a main points of my analysis." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was meant." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "'Yes, I promise.' enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to served to weaken the effect. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Come in!" said he. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Who by?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Your French gold?" We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the