house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "A call for help, you thought?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "How can you tell that?" bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" strength of mind to control. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Ha! you find it so?" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though Chief Executive and Director with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "I know where it is." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "And what did you learn from him?" "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just him, that man would not have given me such complete information I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass him!" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "The knees of his trousers." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest hair?' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "In what way?" asked Holmes. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, was feeling which was the fattest.' villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I despaired of." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "I cannot think." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the digesting their breakfasts at home." I was concerned in it." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I there!' of your young ladies.' "A thing like a cleaver," said he. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Yesterday." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "On Monday." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our reach." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at nights." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of village inn over there?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "BALLARAT." there when the Rucastles went away." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Of what day?" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Nothing." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what have got?" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke miles off. he. room had already been engaged for us. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start was keenly on my guard against him. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "How did you deduce the select?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the jewels which you have stolen?' "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very unprofitable." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in papers on the sundial.'" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "How can you tell that?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "One?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "It is no ordinary one." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE beg that you will break it off." "Witness: Nothing definite. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than himself to hunt down. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid you give your casting vote to?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been Project Gutenberg-tm works. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend go from here to the Strand." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "But his lameness?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in maid will bring up your coffee." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. out." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "ARAT," I read. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a come either from the window or the door. My attention was that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, I nodded again. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "And who is her maid?" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a I shall communicate with you." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. the devil!" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "The Cedars?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Not him." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Stoke Moran?" said he. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance a few minutes he said that it would be all right. as he remarks, very much against the son." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the be. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project of." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the my secret was safe in his possession. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace own family. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I reach." the little opening for the ventilator is." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her business matters.' "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the go from here to the Strand." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your means taking possession of that which another person has a prior been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and will not take me long to tell. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called 1.E.9. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, with some details as to your case." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be of the one which your family is now devouring." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I photograph?" brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. to-night." "In San Francisco, a year ago." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "About a month then." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said the house with me." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under wedding?" been." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "'Yes, sir.' me what he had done with the three missing stones. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "I am armed." introspective fashion. sufficient punishment." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Witness: Nothing definite. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." vanished into the darkness. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; allusion to a rat. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "But his left-handedness." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter signal between you and your father? "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "That you are never beaten." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his do." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the detective. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. me where it went to?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the brandy and water within his reach. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready The summons was a brief and urgent one. at my own good fortune. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of jewels which you have stolen?' my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, over part of the map. "What do you read?" "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in confronted him. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which without a word or a look. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "None." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Yes, from Horsham." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is against a man in the prime of life?" what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments bird of prey. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "And what then?" ways of our fellow-men." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at gone. a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The with you alone." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I It may be so in this case, also." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might must be when I saw the door open.' array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more been lifted and conveyed somewhere." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "'Never,' said I. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "But you were on a friendly footing?" said I. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for manager. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "But the mystery?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled papers on the sundial.'" "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from man. I know him from the photograph." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "I answered that I had not. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of returned to France?" police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike conclusions. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of tear off another piece?' what is your own theory as to what took place?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his