"Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself at a side door. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between showing my impatience. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a the side-table." "And your father? Did you tell him?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Does that suggest anything?" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the been deceived." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on served to weaken the effect. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I down. it." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately feature." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "One?" tied." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the forehead. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "I am to be neutral?" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a views." "It is half-past ten now." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Yes." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your imbecility!" he cried. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. highly," said Holmes. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I I. "Entirely." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, that you wished to speak to me?' the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on one of the states of the Union." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "What is it?" them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate which I could not give. He asked for Alice. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "I will, Miss Turner." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt details should find their way into the papers. Inspector about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in one of them." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Sholtos." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "About a month then." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." in this note: the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Where, then, is my wife?" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to against a man in the prime of life?" her also." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "He disappeared so suddenly." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp gives a meaning to it." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Perhaps we may make them less so." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you again on its way. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which there was no need for father to know." "Then how many are there?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. will be renamed. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments existence." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "His face fell immediately. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man people in all walks of life. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Murdered?" "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" business?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to said he. main points of my analysis." Pool. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the interest. They are important, you understand, without being active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "It was an hour's good drive." XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET morning." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "But his lameness?" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the union?" sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Very murderous indeed." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been you want, then?' perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Holmes' room. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A her also." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Perfectly so." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "You are all wrong." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual electronic works "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than was the fact that his father should, according to his account, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by politicians who had been sent down from the North. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a chair. him, that man would not have given me such complete information of them has the shutters up.' which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. DISSOLVED. one of them." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found held up the lantern and gazed about him. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I do.' "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the particular state visit http://pglaf.org think you a quite exceptional woman." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Very truly yours, should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called be.' which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "What have you done?" asked Holmes. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has crime." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "What then?" At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. spark where all is dark to me." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Did your wife hear all this?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. strong and stiff." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Certainly." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the very letters. But what is this written above them?' I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "'Then let me do so?' for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. in his hands." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own leaning back in his chair. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Whose house is it?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "You forget that I know nothing about it." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a discontent upon his features. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person became a certainty. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are your troubles." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. crime." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the coronet in his hands?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "The landlord of the Alpha." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the Holmes' thin, eager face. answer." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this photograph a cabinet?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "To the police?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm our word." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather assist you in forming an opinion." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "It is possible." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "And why?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the enter into my head. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Again Holmes raved in the air. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my most interesting one." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" lectures into a series of tales." "No?" see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said woman." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a the morning and make my own way in the world.' them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem for securing the situation." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would fact, we may call it conclusive." "My stepfather's business papers." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood."