the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his it right.' appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." placed his cuttings. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may gone before you can get him to hospital." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of peculiar to him. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and matter." I approached. to-night?' "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "But how will you look?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I was sure that I might rely on you." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Witness: It was. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "Breckinridge is his name." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled their singular warning or token before them when starting upon simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each distance from the station, and there we found the young lady of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and manager. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I Dr. Gregory B. Newby make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "I am following you closely," I answered. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by I leave." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a it. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Yes, sir." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "His face fell immediately. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the crime." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the became a certainty. laugh and put his lips to my ear. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "And why in hopes?" note?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Clair, of Lee." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Imitated." "May I see it?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it wife's character?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no maid will bring up your coffee." brandy and water within his reach. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate fuss that is made over them." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, meant." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "And Miss Sutherland?" low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave have an American origin." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between populous neighbourhood." golden eyeglasses. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' over part of the map. "What do you read?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "'Where to?' intrusion of other matters." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Yes, sir." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate through." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. province." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us carried out of court." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he distance from the station, and there we found the young lady quick march!" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, undoubtedly my uncle's." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Precisely." habit of advancing money.' "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon what these perils are?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "An enemy?" "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open became a certainty. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out http://www.gutenberg.net in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "The Cedars?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "But I have heard all that you have heard." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. held up the lantern and gazed about him. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in was keenly on my guard against him. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "At half-wages, in fact." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to entirely lost his self-respect." "No, my brougham is waiting." think, you have already met." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His conceal it?" "What office?" "Yes, there are nearly always some there." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some was not a bird to be seen there. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand hard-headed British jury." the bottom.' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Where did he live, then?" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small breakfast." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without pity, because in other respects you would really have done very had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Whose house is it?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "In heaven's name, what for?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to child?' theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "ARAT," I read. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. him to be an active member of the medical profession." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight call it cruel." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium know that the truth is known." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "'It is locked up,' I answered. some terrible trap for her." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Yes, from Horsham." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson discontent upon his features. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "He disappeared so suddenly." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were distance from the station, and there we found the young lady habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "By train from Waterloo." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the your only hope of safety." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I will, Miss Turner." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I cannot imagine." time." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "'And the work?' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled several quiet little villages up there." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave himself to hunt down. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "What, then?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a galvanised. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "'Yes, sir.' chance." outsides of the windows. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "And did you observe any change in her then?" mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "'I am sure that I do not know.' the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal and the whole place is in a blaze." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "My dear Holmes!" people in all walks of life. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. forbidden door. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of interest. They are important, you understand, without being "VIOLET HUNTER." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. burst out into a roar of laughter. better in every way that they should make their position a little and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the here." "But he might be a bachelor." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "The doctor?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his remarked. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in are, and they are waiting for us." License. You must require such a user to return or felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" where we are going." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about waste of energy." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "We have tried and failed." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be house for five minutes.' arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "VIOLET HUNTER." "So I heard. You have him here?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No companion quietly. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of hereditary King of Bohemia." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when examine." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an kind enough to tell me what I should do." "It looks newer than the other things?" any more." "I came to find a friend." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "I beg pardon." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Not in the least." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, was already answered. "You will not go there first?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "And I." bled considerably." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. lamp in his hand. "We must have a cab." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Was there a secret marriage?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin intrusion of other matters." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" his eyes and forehead. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking cost them two and thirty pounds." matter." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Sutherland. hour?' "It is true that I have been generally successful." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "That also I could fathom." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "I will get her to show me." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch both be extremely obliged.' conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this frequently gained my first real insight into the character of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' matter." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "It looks newer than the other things?" happened." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "By no means." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "I never have."