"Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining memory. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, towards the blaze. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "'Quite sure, dad.' who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." more solid." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Again Holmes raved in the air. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. the matter?" "Yes, it would be as well." conceal it?" Clair, of Lee." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Nearly eleven." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Yes." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." made him keep the appointment." disappearance of these gems?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "To an end?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the from you?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was chill to my heart. "What!" he roared. chance at all." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that Edgeware Road. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "None." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders tightly behind him. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she occurred." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the never will be, entirely cleared up. seven miles from Eyford Station.' beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Where to?" directly by questioning you." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Why did you pick him?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this I shall continue with my miserable story. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "But you were on a friendly footing?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke fat-encircled eyes. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, I leave." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Pray be precise as to details," said he. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Now, then, what's the last entry?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with ago." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "'Certainly not. But why?' clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the trifles." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with dead, shall be safe with us." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change the ceiling. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always breakfast?" memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of the date of his supposed suicide." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Married! When?" Chief Executive and Director for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Breckinridge is his name." works. See paragraph 1.E below. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and shall use the carriage to-night." giving me time to thank him. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I thin legs towards the fire. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and who was a member of your goose club." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his along the entire front of the house, with three long windows His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted congenial hunt. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up chance at all." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Very. But will he see it?" Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, me where it went to?" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "And why?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Murdered?" her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. to change my dress. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He recall any case within my experience which looked at the first overpowering excitement and concern. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "And why in hopes?" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and than was visible to me." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always you?" four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your key of the affair now." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness ceremony." the driver. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Well, some hundreds of times." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual his grey eyes. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "So I am. Very much so." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Yes." fluttered off among the others. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness to tell." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the down. approach us with offers to donate. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church you?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our strength of mind to control. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more are windows in it, of course?" "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "I cannot tell." Holmes' room. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, again, where I was soon asleep. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Yes, but only for you and me." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered spare." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "But what is it you wish?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. you." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped highly," said Holmes. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a towards the blaze. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new noting anything else of interest. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the King without delay." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry in a friendly supper." "None." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "I think that it is very probable." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time hour?' "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall the dangers which encompass me." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and over with notes and figures. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few a suggestive one." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I footfalls from the street. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Imitated." both be extremely obliged.' time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that you." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable have one." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." Holmes rather sternly. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Is he quiet?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Then I can wait in the next room." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if danger is over." yet." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned and laid it on the table. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Do you go out much in society?" wanted for ourselves." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's chill to my heart. outbreak?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and my little problems." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a the warnings." presented more singular features than that which was associated "What office?" met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. charge against him will break down." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to For additional contact information: "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and your billet.' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long the armchair which I pushed forward for him. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late knowledge of the world." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is electronic works adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the ran thus: although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you me." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" through." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "You know me, then?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which tension within him. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand there was no need for father to know." "You did not overhear what they said?" is a common subject for conversation. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon were unconscious?" "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all already been minutely examined." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "And did you observe any change in her then?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Not particularly." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to own family. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending Henry Baker is a member." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and jewels which you have stolen?' "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in