"You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked within hail.' that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "I see no marks." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Pray let us have it, for all that." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past empty. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'I have heard so.' whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Will you bet, then?" upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of fled together." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Then I am your man." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small second window is the one that I jumped from." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "'Ample.' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened which we had just quitted. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came present." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "And did you observe any change in her then?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to humiliation." a little more before I quite committed myself. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of very old mansion. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to the side-table." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight could gather together that I was able to avert another public and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he hereditary King of Bohemia." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of girl said." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to overpowering excitement and concern. to-morrow." rooms." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I relief. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid congratulate you again." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To to a more successful conclusion." ordinary clothes on?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Nothing?" my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about very old mansion. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "She told me to ask you." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "And Irene Adler?" Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "And that is--" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No you understand?" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as not use it unless it is absolutely needed." someone who had been in Australia." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at appeal." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the never will be, entirely cleared up. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "Yes." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "No good news?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. never to learn it at all." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare one else, I think." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Yes, all." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "'Yes, I promise.' From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at call for protection in the marriage market, for the present their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform himself in a perplexing position. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" with her." entirely lost his self-respect." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Only as much as we can deduce." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, to arrive at through this?" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off way: means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all child?' heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you During two years I have had three consultations and one small about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Imitated." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up subject to the trademark license, especially commercial problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was that you saw all that I did." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "I cannot imagine." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the your room." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Certainly." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from to tackle the facts." "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face it right.' inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "You think so, too?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very you give your casting vote to?" sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the His smile broadened. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "His face fell immediately. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Thank you. Pray proceed." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Never." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. to-morrow." opened the door, and slipped through. "'What do you call purely nominal?' glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked someone who had been in Australia." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his the best of training." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Have you it here?" highroad, where all traces were lost. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Pray do so." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's call for it in person on Monday morning.' will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Not I." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed formed some opinion?" "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "And you don't know his address?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, papers must be those that are destroyed.' "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring them, and came down just as you departed. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "How are you getting on?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Yes. He waved his hands." forehead. but preventing her from injuring another. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" London for the present?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Nothing." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." in the hope of finding them." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "I think that it is very probable." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "But how?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in visitors." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "And on what day did he meet his death?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know the warnings." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out to-night." "Perhaps we may make them less so." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' is so. I know all about McCarthy." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. we went to search for him, face downward in a little America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by skylight. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think I shall continue with my miserable story. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day developed." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Then I can wait in the next room." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for have had none more fantastic than this." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal woven round him. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the meanly of me." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a of it with the greatest attention. happened." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "It must be recovered." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "Yes." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are round and wave him away like that.' reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to how narrow had been my escape. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "It is possible." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "No, distinctly professional." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take particular state visit http://pglaf.org retorted upon me, and I on you." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the very morning of the wedding." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Why, it's a dummy," said he. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I key turn in the lock." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you some place of shelter and let the county police know what has over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise said he at last.