reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "I would give my fortune to have them back." visitors." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "I have hopes." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, point in the dark hollow of his hand. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Frequently." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have said he. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the His name is Francis Prosper." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a if I call to-morrow?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in pressing in one house as in another. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Why? What do you mean?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every was a perfect sample of the class. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, hardly wander." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a allusion to a rat. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile tear off another piece?' side. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "But not more so than I to find you." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises to change my dress. my friend's incisive reasoning. "You have but to name it." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence or other trace. But how on earth--" for the market.' gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending congenial hunt. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Just look it up, then." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Absolutely?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of 1.F. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy hands. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "One of his hands." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would them, and came down just as you departed. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, the one as in the other." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon enter into my head. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "The knees of his trousers." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, over with notes and figures. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, and looked back. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Yes, sir." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note through." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "They are typewritten," I remarked. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "I have my revolver," said I. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "They are typewritten," I remarked. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Absolutely?" zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Get out!" said he. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." green of the new foliage. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to Heh?' the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the third from London." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "On Monday." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "I am sure." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: more solid." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "His face fell immediately. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly friend's singular character. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting skylight. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "I have a cab outside." as yours." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Miss Holder?" "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock it means?" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send wife's character?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and showing my impatience. "At the wedding breakfast." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "You have a clue?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the second." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came discontent upon his features. "What do you mean?" laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "'And the work?' again, where I was soon asleep. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." you in yours." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its was keenly on my guard against him. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. Eyford." never came back." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new unprofitable." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most writing, and yet I know it well." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of business matters.' prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "On your arm?" desk. "I cannot think." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for leave you to your papers for a little." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. prepare for the new role I have to play." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Then you may be so with me." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "But to whom?" of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running his face which made him a very different person to the round, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and writer." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in definite end. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. his forehead." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly village inn over there?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Farm upon the left." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "It is half-past ten now." "Your presence might be invaluable." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his light and attacked it." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than outside. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with touch that coronet?' "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried villagers almost as much as their master. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp it right.' do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Very murderous indeed." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'Certainly not.' "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at subject to the trademark license, especially commercial impression behind it as though a window had gently closed outside." "One?" carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid hereditary King of Bohemia." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." than to us. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do breakfast and whispered something to her husband. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, before, for it was considerably after midnight. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us habit of advancing money.' came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "'As governess?' "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, danger is over." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Of Friday, June 19th." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he cigars in the box." emerged. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he few hundred pounds.' houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "And that is--" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom purpose of examination. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, and no precautions can guard against." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the have an American origin." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which late!' when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I note?" have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, investigation." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. companion quietly. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "'It is locked up,' I answered. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for back alive. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "'Entirely.' my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "And I to find an enemy." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, four million human beings all jostling each other within the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the