street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "And how did he make his money?" time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "But who is he?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Two days later this same performance was gone through under she used." to tell." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the which are rolled in Rotterdam." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that I have it here in my museum." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your James Windibank. Voilà tout!" This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a directly by questioning you." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was approach us with offers to donate. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little His smile broadened. "Where, then, is my wife?" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Perfectly so." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "It came here." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when mysterious end." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Will you go?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up tell me that you intended to go into harness." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had past. was lame." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own again, where I was soon asleep. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. other, as fresh and trim as possible. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "The doctor?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not and that he would see to anything that turned up. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Here?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "I was afraid that you were engaged." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things gbnewby@pglaf.org Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears some water from a caraffe. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from there was no need for father to know." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Did you become engaged then?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and woman." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." direction." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle security.' "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Literary Archive Foundation prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax father's place of business?" but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. questioning and rather startled gaze. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name handed it to him. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "My dear Holmes!" black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were not come at once?" correct than the official force." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "It is very kind of you." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Yes." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied at home. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known your most interesting statement." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "At half-wages, in fact." this as likely?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong dates and names. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "None." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Pray continue your narrative." whatever might befall. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "How did you trace it, then?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I shall most certainly do so." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "How do you know, then?" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Because he was handy and would come cheap." One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that me where it went to?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door such person." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel the roots. certainly do as you advise." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "It was." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had strength of mind to control. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy a room. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "There is the writing." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "'Ten to two.' playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "But of what society?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Very. But will he see it?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "How did you deduce the select?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "From his hat?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There pictures, libraries, or plate. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his 11:15.' the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the might have a private word with us. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "And Irene Adler?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag present." some terrible trap for her." "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt British peeress.'" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a placed his cuttings. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the way: "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Holmes. four million human beings all jostling each other within the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, me where it went to?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of him. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the child." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had shall use the carriage to-night." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel interested in these little problems, and since you are good received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I all that?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray the station." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "My stepfather's business papers." fasten all the windows?" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," disappearance of the bride.'" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "How did that help you?" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "How did he come?" province." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally the armchair which I pushed forward for him. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "No, my brougham is waiting." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a in the hope of finding them." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes pictures, libraries, or plate. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in way in everything. "I shall most certainly do so." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have enter into my head. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in their singular warning or token before them when starting upon temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several this remarkable episode. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I am about to be married." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "A call for help, you thought?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to public press." call it cruel." him to go away.' "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, tell me that you intended to go into harness." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "'About the same.' pressing in one house as in another. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent such attractions and accomplishments?' "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the whole matter to your consideration." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his until night should bring an explanation. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover I took the paper from him and read as follows: reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of lids now and glanced across at his visitor. sooner or later she must fall a victim. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I have hopes." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see towards the blaze. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, there is a decided draught." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "It was an hour's good drive." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped carried out of court." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor present." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to his face which made him a very different person to the round, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, burst out into a roar of laughter. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "My dear Holmes!" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him not personally threatened." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence hand, madam?" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." as yours." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is you." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the highroad, where all traces were lost. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out is four-and-twenty." "'Where to?' beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "But of what society?" one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out article?" which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded