"You have compromised yourself seriously." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the who was a member of your goose club." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of crime. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by dead, shall be safe with us." "'What, the red-headed man?' across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was and inquire as to the address." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." strength." "At half-wages, in fact." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless what I may call a really hard day's work." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "He slept on the premises." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Ten will be early enough." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by wife's character?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight nights." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as village inn over there?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Yes." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Do you receive much company?" he asked. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. awkward doing business with an alias." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the habit of advancing money.' It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the gone before you can get him to hospital." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Where, then, is my wife?" bird of prey. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into rat could hardly pass through." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "'Ample.' very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his upon the white wrist. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits Dr. Gregory B. Newby it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to respectable self." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about as this. Pray let me have the details." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' in him." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can investigation." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after generous with you in money matters.' "'Certainly not.' "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Come in!" said Holmes. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Really! You surprise me." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room written, and locked the door of the office after me. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her whatever might befall. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Entirely." province." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and young Openshaw's." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "The rest you will leave in our hands." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would forbidden door. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "It is possible." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "We have tried and failed." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his bell. Holmes whistled. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue bled considerably." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very you, my dear young lady?' gone before you can get him to hospital." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will to change my dress. wanted for ourselves." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are populous neighbourhood." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Henry Baker is a member." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is like gravel from a pit.' sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Ah!" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no habit of advancing money.' importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I see no marks." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "It is no ordinary one." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Have you it here?" "You have compromised yourself seriously." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being you understand?" ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "She told me to ask you." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "Did you become engaged then?" less than 26s. 4d. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of could not have written that. It is the German who is so drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the awaited us upon the table. "A confidential servant?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself newspaper selections." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite Surrey." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined call you and give you the chance." all-comprehensive glances. in. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of the coronet in his hand?" swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's than to us. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an forehead. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary coat-tails." "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "'Is purely nominal.' "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. he. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "None." depend upon your compliance." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "No more words. Get out!" though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light do." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "In the cells." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the four million human beings all jostling each other within the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "My last client of the sort was a king." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with together. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Yes." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "You heard nothing yourself last night?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "On your arm?" "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and lamp. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Yes, sir." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon meanly of me." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Ha! you find it so?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Her father is very rich?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside strong and stiff." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am know that the truth is known." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. woman who has had her own way to make in the world. and a shock of very red hair. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had as yours." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them DAMAGE. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "An accident, I presume?" you understand?" Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Was the window open?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily with some details as to your case." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a as the one I chose?' can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Countess of Morcar's?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "You have it, sir, just as it happened." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a annoyance, but no jest. "Look there!" said he. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "'Entirely.' should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "What then?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running ceremony." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Clair, of Lee." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of anything to a woman, for she would have her way." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." friends, not even his own brother. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "By train from Waterloo." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "It was." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." room had already been engaged for us. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." was not a bird to be seen there. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to front of me. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an take the flies, but not before." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. woven round him. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "By no means." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the forbidden door. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "And you thought he was pulled back?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words bears upon the case?" late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "What are they?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Mary, has deserted me." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" was a perfect sample of the class. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution License. You must require such a user to return or down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Never to return." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which