"Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Get out!" said he. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "It is a murder, then?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "He is dead," cried several voices. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. girl said." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the Red-headed League." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to sooner or later she must fall a victim. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to hurried away. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, your bag." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Imitated." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "'Quite sure, dad.' weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into call you and give you the chance." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker asked. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "I don't say that. Perhaps." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out developed." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his away into the river." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long I held the little printed slip to the light. "I know where it is." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign all?" fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide noble correspondent could be. "She told me to ask you." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the long narrative. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this disappearance of these gems?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "'Is 4 pounds a week.' my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Witness: I must still refuse. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Where to?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and fled together." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not him and tried to hold him back. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "None." I nodded to show that I had heard. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is maiden herself was most instructive." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut head. So long, then!" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Yes, it was twisted." a monotonous occupation." your own bird, so if you wish--" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "To an English lawyer named Norton." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my swore that no one else had been in the front room during the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Will you bet, then?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do that sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked it." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away sparkled upon his finger. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' The note was undated, and without either signature or address. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a It may be so in this case, also." coat-tails." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project his eyes and forehead. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Count Von Kramm." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Never." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father approach us with offers to donate. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired get the tickets." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through outside. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Yes." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "What?" I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "What then?" which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his answer." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door union?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless brain must have something in it." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: Stoke Moran." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. question. my secret was safe in his possession. remarked. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a you understand?" strode off upon his way. "Very murderous indeed." strength." think you a quite exceptional woman." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to back alive. "Yes." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some gbnewby@pglaf.org downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this breakfast and whispered something to her husband. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to you in your example." where she found matters as described by the last witness. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may highroad, where all traces were lost. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "It missed him, then?" should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." handed it to him. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We hands. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Precisely." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the side-table." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "No. What a strange idea!" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she unclasping of his long thin hands. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "This photograph!" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying you." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "I am armed." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "You saw the ventilator, too?" absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "My Mary? Impossible!" "We were both in the photograph." "No. What a strange idea!" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through habit of advancing money.' to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Were they all fastened this morning?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that door?" perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Yes, he did." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of skylight. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece that you saw all that I did." problems help me to do so." a suggestive one." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into you." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round trifles." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "One of his hands." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was 1.F. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close paper in the air. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. whatever might befall. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "Oh, yes, easily." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Witness: I must still refuse. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I him. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its business?" tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that along the entire front of the house, with three long windows help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself society." sneer upon his pale face. "Very truly yours, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there be there in time for your coming." tell them apart.' keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "I cannot imagine." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "You think that he is dead?" followed. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Then the page we have seen--" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he along the entire front of the house, with three long windows that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, http://gutenberg.net/license). note?" "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "You have a clue?" "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Nor running a chance of arrest?" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "There is the writing." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it weighed down with some great anxiety. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to arrested. You then--" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined dramatic, in fact." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'How far from the body?' which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "In heaven's name, what for?" here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the night.' Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter second window is the one that I jumped from." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental he died? British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the to tackle the facts." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the than was visible to me." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not just called myself is not exactly my own."