relief. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was eavesdroppers?' "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised strong reason behind." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from his face. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with invisible to me," I remarked. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled beg that you will break it off." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his did not hear it also.' the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the peculiar to him. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very begun to whiten, even as mine has." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "The knees of his trousers." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's wall." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "I will, Miss Turner." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you success. "To an English lawyer named Norton." pressing in one house as in another. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "'Ample.' "A confidential servant?" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "You don't mind breaking the law?" "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "In what way?" asked Holmes. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My the warnings." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Project Gutenberg-tm works. walking." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "I assure you that I am in your hands." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to what these perils are?" horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as three fields round his house, and there he would take his prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your girl said." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to of fine shops and stately business premises that they really had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor ceremony." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "I am in hopes that she does." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "You know me, then?" II. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "No more words. Get out!" "The doctor?" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of allusion to a rat. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "It is his hat." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet so far?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a see a sister of mine apply for." cigars in their mouths. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "That was it, sir." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a yet." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Very murderous indeed." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as him!" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Yes, I have one waiting." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his were unconscious?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Never." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the station." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A your Highness to the police-station?" writers could invent nothing more crude." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time telegram would bring me down to your help." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me she might be summoned. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been of campaign. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Absolutely none." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Henry Baker is a member." as yours." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for coat-tails." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." and have this put in the evening papers." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten asked. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm to go into your room and bar your shutters?" mystery!" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could out." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such his wife has ceased to love him." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all what these perils are?" it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Perfectly so." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "You have but to name it." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the few hundred pounds.' "So I am. Very much so." discontent upon his features. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and Countess of Morcar's?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "And how did you verify them?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Perhaps I have." seven miles from Eyford Station.' It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I Arthur Conan Doyle "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were round with crates and massive boxes. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his you, my dear young lady?' detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of most interesting one." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Yes. He waved his hands." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. dramatic, in fact." here." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms lids now and glanced across at his visitor. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "I am still in the dark." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the the roots. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "No. What a strange idea!" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" you came in." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining again before evening." Have you good authority for what you say?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me careless servant girl?" "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and stood on the top of it. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I am all attention, madam." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it the so-precious time, but come!' "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Yes, but only for you and me." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I and put his glass in his pocket. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard very peculiar words of the dying woman?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As fled together." enough to aid us in our search." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "The landlord of the Alpha." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, at once, for I have only half an hour." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom your equipment. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "But how will you look?" desk. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "But to whom?" dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Then I do not see the point." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual is worth.' landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to nothing with him." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "'Which dealer's?' "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Then I am your man." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Of what?" either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing frequently gained my first real insight into the character of better in every way that they should make their position a little reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting way in." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Precisely so. But how--" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert chance." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that are, I think, all that we need." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the papers diligently of late, have you not?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into away into the river." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as generous with you in money matters.' it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "I was certainly surprised to find you there." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I one or two very singular points about this room. For example, sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "But how will you look?" you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "I was sure that I might rely on you." have not had my rubber." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "It is a murder, then?" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "She told me to ask you." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "I have hopes." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "So it appears." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Sutherland?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Will you bet, then?" "None." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Well, some hundreds of times." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush should be so warm over such a trifle." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "'I am sure if I had known--' "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George room had already been engaged for us. "Get out!" said he. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve II. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." chance at all." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. conduct the inquiry." "About a month then." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "I was mad--insane." It may be so in this case, also." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny down in his armchair and closing his eyes. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the