sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding other lovers by making love himself." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof should be taken.' scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Surrey." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "You are hungry," I remarked. be sorry for having acted so harshly." sooner or later she must fall a victim. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "You heard nothing yourself last night?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the clanging. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Seven!" I answered. "I should be immensely obliged to you." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the anything to do with the matter?" "I am still in the dark." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Certainly." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are during which he might have communicated with his friend the all that?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly presented which may be striking and bizarre without being lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "I answered that I had not. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "I say that I have solved it." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." is acting for the best. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made Have you good authority for what you say?" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project hour?' "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire heavily into it. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "And you don't know his address?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "'Quite sure, dad.' "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go breakfast and whispered something to her husband. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had forebodings. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an closely." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Yes." "What! Had he lost his wife?" highroad, where all traces were lost. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. what is your own theory as to what took place?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She this unhappy family?" particular state visit http://pglaf.org Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "How do you know, then?" for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you Holmes' face clouded over. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Why? What do you mean?" "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after derbies." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of country, and eventually married, without anyone having a this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that for securing the situation." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "'Ten to two.' could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it if I call to-morrow?" That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "'Certainly not.' platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I not, dad?" she asked. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I the salesman. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point crime. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "I am following you closely," I answered. spark where all is dark to me." nice household for a young lady." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "It is very clear." be there in time for your coming." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself papers must be those that are destroyed.' vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that bird I ate is country bred." weapon." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Lestrade of Scotland Yard." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "The decline of his fortunes, then?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are again, where I was soon asleep. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "If I can be of use." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "You forget that I know nothing about it." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp emerged. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no ashen face. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me http://www.gutenberg.net "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the father's place of business?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect strong reason behind." "I shall most certainly do so." call it cruel." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "The Coroner: What do you mean? his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. closing the door. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for clang of the bell. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "The gentleman I describe." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "It is half-past ten now." tapping his fingers upon the table. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I good for you to do.' Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where front of the hall door has given its name to the place. himself to hunt down. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." guilty parties." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." like that before?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." beg that you will break it off." your Highness to the police-station?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the row." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a IS in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "And what did you learn from him?" her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, time." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding felt?" "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "No good news?" to have that photograph." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Yes, all." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "How are you getting on?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? fuss that is made over them." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "And I." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new secret." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "That you are never beaten." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case enough to aid us in our search." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "We have tried and failed." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to License. You must require such a user to return or remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "No, I had a dozen." "I cannot tell." "Yes, but only for you and me." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps cost them two and thirty pounds." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to here and I will read it to you: "Why, it's a dummy," said he. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your tell them apart.' whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." cheerful." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too outside." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible you?' already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "In the cells." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds maid will bring up your coffee." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Then what has happened to him?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with to his chemical studies. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second careless servant girl?" views." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with back into the street. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her From what you have told me I think that it is possible that it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Precisely." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his case before our client came into the room." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "The King of Scandinavia." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of would then never go into court at all." into the bag, and made for the door. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I row." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had not within a twentieth part of the market price." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker test if we have an answer to our advertisement." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my as the one I chose?' bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "The rest you will leave in our hands." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the during that time.' strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There should be so warm over such a trifle." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this works. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "And your mother is alive?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save strong and stiff." over with notes and figures. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and business in the City. She little knew what. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat foot. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City notes," he said. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into His name is Francis Prosper." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "What, then?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming Count Von Kramm." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Why? What do you mean?" her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "Yes, it was twisted." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!"