copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between she slowly sank and died without having recovered her chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "I have a cab outside." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "I think that I had better go, Holmes." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "I would give my fortune to have them back." ordinary clothes on?" "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped of the one which your family is now devouring." in. while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "What!" he roared. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "What then?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Will you bet, then?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your touch that coronet?' "10th. John Swain cleared. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and bed dies. Does not that strike you?" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at garden below. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out frequently gained my first real insight into the character of better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to and inquire as to the address." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." III. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the electronic works "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room bed dies. Does not that strike you?" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Perhaps I have." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my his eyes and forehead. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with his wife has ceased to love him." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the families. Now for the facts. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a wedding?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third meant it for the best. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all be sorry for having acted so harshly." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of London for the present?" the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "What do you mean?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "A call for help, you thought?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." "And for present expenses?" "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Quite so." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, out." and looked back. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he he bowed and left the room without another word. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of of." "Was your sister dressed?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in may never be exposed to such a temptation." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met very morning of my second wedding." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your all that?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third meanly of me." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy heavily into it. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no purpose of examination. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of what these perils are?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "He disappeared so suddenly." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a gone. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been relation between them, and what the object of his repeated wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Pray continue your narrative." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "I know where it is." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by through." said I. "Which are?" "Who was the criminal, then?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "I would pay ten." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now very morning of my second wedding." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to shoulder. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" cause to be." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "And why in hopes?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "It was." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Certainly." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Precisely." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Eh? What was that?" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of brain must have something in it." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all room. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to have an American origin." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be him, that man would not have given me such complete information rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "No good news?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "ARAT," I read. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the to tell." row." "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and other lovers by making love himself." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" advice." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and the church but not where the lady lived." "Really! You surprise me." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "Then I shall certainly come." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by papers on the sundial.'" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. little adventures." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an chance." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar neither fascinating nor artistic." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that undoubtedly my uncle's." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Dirty?" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Thank you. Pray proceed." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." occurred." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I legal crime." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on photograph?" Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "You think that he is dead?" his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. could go. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then excitement. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat had a long day." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Farm upon the left." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Has he come with you to-night?" greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." and I shall be with you presently." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Not in a good cause." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "And how did he make his money?" waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "That you are never beaten." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible papers diligently of late, have you not?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "It is possible." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of think that any burglar could have done. be there in time for your coming." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first congratulate you again." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good again on its way. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, kind enough to tell me what I should do." arrangements." gone before you can get him to hospital." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "To the police?" most interesting one." against a man in the prime of life?" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he you for a few hours?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Here?" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard I approached. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary been with you?" which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "And now?" I asked. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Not social, then?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed should be taken.' of this gang." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "An accident, I presume?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and there!' tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "And how have you succeeded?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same footfalls from the street. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, and all of them with the keenest interest. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Yes." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Could he throw no light?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his paper in the air. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask appeared upon the scene." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship quickly through a disagreeable task. go--none." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I point in the dark hollow of his hand. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon It may be so in this case, also." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife face and glided from the room. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Yes, it would be as well." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was you came in." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "'What would be the hours?' I asked. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle returned to France?" akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "In what way?" asked Holmes. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "You have but to name it." "Will you go?" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "We have tried and failed." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Why did you beat the pavement?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." this remarkable episode. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think again." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the directly by questioning you." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "'And what salary do you ask?' Count Von Kramm." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "I will try. What is it?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite