"Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for comes from the middle window." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the dangers which encompass me." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable passage and a tap at the door. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" rooms." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "I have a cab outside." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "So it appears." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, locked." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Where does the thing come from?' St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Ten will be early enough." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely all-comprehensive glances. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly digesting their breakfasts at home." it." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "But how?" photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the one as in the other." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after crowd. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, pictures, libraries, or plate. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases front of me. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my at my own good fortune. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Nearly eleven." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. here and I will read it to you: should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must my secret was safe in his possession. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us papers diligently of late, have you not?" fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull me have 200 pounds?' papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly late." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his to that open window." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "At the wedding breakfast." what these perils are?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will of campaign. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with introspective fashion. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was 11:15.' his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "And I say east," said my patient. to you." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all returning from some small jollification and was making his way little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Why did you pick him?" revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Always." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a light and attacked it." unprecedented a position." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "'There is a drive, then?' obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "If so, much may have happened between." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two and effective." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "He slept on the premises." door?" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I forbidden door. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "It is true that I have been generally successful." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black him nearly every evening." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and envelope. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "It is solved." my special province." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Stolen." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "'Ten to two.' telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with newspaper selections." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then right! Sit down and let us talk it over." there in twenty minutes." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Do you know him?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful wall." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would meanly of me." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the sooner or later she must fall a victim. speckled band?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "No, distinctly professional." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Absolutely none." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Which surely he restored to their owner?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "'Not at all. I only doubt--' resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Eyford." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, brain must have something in it." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "It surprised me." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Yes, he did." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving words came to my lips. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "I don't say that. Perhaps." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "It is very clear." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" it. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the II. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "'I have heard so.' "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. business." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he tapping his fingers upon the table. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no and it need not interfere very much with one's other For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Will you bet, then?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old she has been waylaid. There has been no result." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had murdered man." "How on earth--" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and cigars in their mouths. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who prove to be little relation between the different incidents of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you highly," said Holmes. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, you." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain very morning of my second wedding." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "The doctor?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' voice, changing her seat as requested. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that a very grave face. "'I am sure if I had known--' "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, behind me. crowd. of it with the greatest attention. "How did that help you?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds and capable of preserving a secret.' one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Yes, it would be as well." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, I leave." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Indeed! Whose, then?" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing or other trace. But how on earth--" should be so warm over such a trifle." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "'A dozen yards or so.' nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Precisely." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where through." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt of note-paper. It read in this fashion: to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. shall not find me ungrateful." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Then the page we have seen--" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Nothing." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "'Why that?' I asks. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and at my own good fortune. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." http://gutenberg.net/license). desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight train from Paddington which would bring you there at about relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may six. Come in!" as he remarks, very much against the son." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point in the hope of finding them." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless he died? stammered. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Sutherland?" desk. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! open." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Sholtos." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common subject to the trademark license, especially commercial recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend four million human beings all jostling each other within the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in maid will bring up your coffee." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "You think so, too?" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his useful material for showing traces. The double line a little dates and names. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To disturbance in my wife." "Here?" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in a little more before I quite committed myself. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the and capable of preserving a secret.' the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'And the work?' of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Miss Holder?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Then, as to money?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced the ceiling. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought golden eyeglasses. you." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were fat-encircled eyes. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Very well, sir. And this stone?" hand, madam?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to might have a private word with us. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not burst out into a roar of laughter. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "But what harm can there be in that?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the she to prove their authenticity?" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "That is not always so easy." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations power." "I will, Miss Turner." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the