"It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the station." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, official police." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "Well." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly sparkled upon his finger. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive burst out into a roar of laughter. "Yes." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. ceremony." to have been novel and of interest." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. spark where all is dark to me." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged made his money." do.' door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to recall any case within my experience which looked at the first centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no posted to-day." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, it." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "VIOLET HUNTER." the stones. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out directors have had misgivings upon the subject." might have a private word with us. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "I am to be neutral?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. third from London." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few gone before you can get him to hospital." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "I saw her in conversation with her maid." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Lestrade of Scotland Yard." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought purpose of examination. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never chair. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, present." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little me, and I could not think that his explanation of the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King present." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I right! Sit down and let us talk it over." never will be, entirely cleared up. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was will not take me long to tell. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the King without delay." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door you give your casting vote to?" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the both be extremely obliged.' married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I should wish to." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. the date of his supposed suicide." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "But how?" adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "And what then?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, thought that she would have been so carried away." "We must have a cab." "He slept on the premises." a good hundred miles off by now." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the little opening for the ventilator is." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have approach us with offers to donate. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He once more for Briony Lodge. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty him nearly every evening." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who my former friend and companion. upon the shelf for the interim." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever gone before you can get him to hospital." is so. I know all about McCarthy." British peeress.'" "Yes, that is the Crown." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," upon an income of about 60 pounds." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a tightly behind him. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "But your client--" "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have my special province." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the crime. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider garden below. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant and your relations to her." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Texas, I think." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he yourselves in at night?" time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter The King stared at him in amazement. rose-bushes. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the voice. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss bedroom door." off." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea your bag." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret to Leatherhead. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb present strange and interesting features that it is no easy with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I to go into your room and bar your shutters?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a intrusion of other matters." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "On Monday." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the may never be exposed to such a temptation." "What!" he roared. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw experiences." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than fait accompli?" the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" bare slabs of marble. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional II. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to and it need not interfere very much with one's other along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. not come at once?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and points to suicide?" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." papers diligently of late, have you not?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to morning." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle The note was undated, and without either signature or address. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Sholtos." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so crime. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's astonishment. closely." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. Lee, in the county of Kent." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom in him." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "When did she vanish, then?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled views." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do mystery." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in handed it to him. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "'What then?' I asked. "He said too much." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at in the dead of the night?' "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was one which it was hard to resist. on in his house." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "And I to find an enemy." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a discontent upon his features. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an and glanced through. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building rat could hardly pass through." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in in him." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "She will not sell." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. is acting for the best. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a knowledge of the world." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and the colonel ushered me in. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on experiences." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman constraint." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the one as in the other." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "You horrify me." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, villagers almost as much as their master. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the ceiling. in the port of London." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'Stolen!' he cried. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an out of this horrible affair." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear and the whole place is in a blaze." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this may never be exposed to such a temptation." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at chair. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "What! Had he lost his wife?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The peculiar to him. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two has little to do with my story." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, the dangers which encompass me." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Literary Archive Foundation in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "But he might be a bachelor." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. stepfather?" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "I am sure." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, again on its way. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her not personally threatened." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts not within a twentieth part of the market price." there is a decided draught." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he posted to-day." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it *** START: FULL LICENSE *** The summons was a brief and urgent one. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of