of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would http://www.gutenberg.net never will be, entirely cleared up. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Entirely." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable congratulate you again." for securing the situation." golden eyeglasses. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the heavy and sharp instrument." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion constraint." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, handed it to him. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of good for you to do.' of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an served to weaken the effect. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position without success. At last the little money which I had saved began be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "'In my own bureau.' weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss villagers almost as much as their master. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect breakfast." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Then I shall certainly come." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias pierced for earrings?" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and the stable lane now." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he o'clock is it?" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very away to you." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very October 9, 1890. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly article?" hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon of the efforts of the United States government and of the better he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to of it with the greatest attention. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Mary, has deserted me." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off are windows in it, of course?" "Not particularly." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at chance." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My to go into your room and bar your shutters?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a bird of prey. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I started for the Temple to see my husband. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter to have that photograph." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "What I expected to see." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and I think that I could be of assistance to you." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest do you make of it all?" heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Very murderous indeed." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, best detective that ever lived. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his investigation." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, will be renamed. more solid." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "What is it?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building been shamefully used." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "I am sure." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Yes." future lives." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set minor matters until to-morrow." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of clang of the bell. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought burst out into a roar of laughter. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was over part of the map. "What do you read?" word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or about here speaks of his kindness to him." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in woman who has had her own way to make in the world. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "But not more so than I to find you." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked some city in a dream. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "And sit in the dark?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my indiscretion." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United electronic works marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other little adventures." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Stoke Moran?" said he. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "Nothing." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, tear off another piece?' that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from about here speaks of his kindness to him." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his sneer upon his pale face. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his the Assizes." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual bled considerably." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could photograph?" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Ha! you find it so?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but and that he would see to anything that turned up. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was garden below. "My own seal." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened to talk it over. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which me. You must get home instantly and act." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our call for it in person on Monday morning.' before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Where to?" dear old homesteads?" beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "No, distinctly professional." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" there is a decided draught." the stable lane now." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to hurried away. danger is over." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "You will not go there first?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me coroner's jury." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out was the fact that his father should, according to his account, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his followed. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, very peculiar words of the dying woman?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Literary Archive Foundation o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the without a word or a look. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." do." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in father's place of business?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A begin with, and I had not got mine yet." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "'Where to?' some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "My photograph." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a observed. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a that he has suffered." "Deserted you?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "The knees of his trousers." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "I would pay ten." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot is entirely a question of barometric pressure." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "About a month then." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without hand, madam?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "You have it, sir, just as it happened." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Did your wife hear all this?" one else, I think." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Edgeware Road. "Not yet." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Where is it, then?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my horse could go." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Oh, yes, easily." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, them?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On astonishment. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Do you go out much in society?" was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. tapping his fingers upon the table. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in she used." four million human beings all jostling each other within the detective. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us my little problems." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are be. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester new duties?' I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "I shall be delighted." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows his eyes and forehead. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed good-night and bustled off upon her way. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the God! What an exposure! What can I do?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at himself in a perplexing position. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about had no one to advise her at such a crisis." again before evening." was not a bird to be seen there. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She