"It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, matter." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "The landlord of the Alpha." "By no means." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Very murderous indeed." approach us with offers to donate. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than room. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be started for the Temple to see my husband. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Never." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood may never be exposed to such a temptation." of them has the shutters up.' who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By key of the affair now." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and hereditary King of Bohemia." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "You forget that I know nothing about it." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Precisely." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Who was the criminal, then?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. charge against him will break down." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say them?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. chemical work which was so dear to him. to tackle the facts." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It memory. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, in darkness. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Married! When?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been to a more successful conclusion." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "What! You do not mean bodies?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must Clair, of Lee." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Then, how do you know?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with developed." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a know what is wrong with it.' frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in the child." than was visible to me." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a outside." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Heh?' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "'Yes, sir.' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I night.' said he. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "So I have heard." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness with you alone." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," entirely lost his self-respect." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "I am sure." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window past. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter furiously. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in Young McCarthy must be got off, however." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the matter?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 was shining brightly. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we carried out of court." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I think that it is very probable." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most call you and give you the chance." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." prison!" writing, and yet I know it well." business." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "We were both in the photograph." colonel looking down at me. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to the very morning of the wedding." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "And your mother is alive?" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was place of silver." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets question. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. were wasted." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "The doctor?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the his wife has ceased to love him." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the Red-headed League." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would pictures, libraries, or plate. sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Holmes' thin, eager face. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are murdered man." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. that I can to serve you." Street. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he shoulder; "he's all right." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival round with crates and massive boxes. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I cause to be." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm back into the street. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. asked. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. was already answered. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "About a month then." "Yes." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns coat-tails." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "What steps will you take?" I asked. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "On your arm?" inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now You can understand that this register and diary may implicate backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "What then?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some 11:15.' their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San behind me. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "The knees of his trousers." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Then I am your man." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I made him keep the appointment." place no limit on the sum I may draw." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen few hundred pounds.' husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Deserted you?" "And I." "Yes, sir." shaken than I had ever seen him. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' foresight and the moral retrogression?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the success. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium States. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "That is possible." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' without a word or a look. your troubles." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "What do you make of that, Watson?" "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter and no precautions can guard against." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' nothing of it?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime union?" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." corner of the building. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all chamber." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Only as much as we can deduce." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life opened the door, and slipped through. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then residence of the great financier. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Why, it's a dummy," said he. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction suspect him." at my own good fortune. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among hands. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a allusion to a rat. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet anything to a woman, for she would have her way." to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "How can you tell that?" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" Lee, in the county of Kent." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning tail." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Yes, that is the Crown." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after went to the Alpha were town bred." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' not as remarkable as your advertisement." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense weary and pale-looking. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Of Friday, June 19th." that you can jump it.' "Yes, I have one waiting." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said might have a private word with us. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Here?" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'You doubt its value?' he asked. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "None." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment directly by questioning you." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was direction." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "It is possible." sake, don't!" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my bird I ate is country bred." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he not personally threatened." his eyes and forehead. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these his face which made him a very different person to the round, The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you is acting for the best. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he not as remarkable as your advertisement." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, past. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "My private note-paper." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.