look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been newspaper selections." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All conversation I have gathered that they have been married about your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and room. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have lectures into a series of tales." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Nothing." "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know article?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our delighted to hear it," he said. occurred." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any stammered. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "'A dozen yards or so.' least a most suspicious remark." "About a month then." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. them, and came down just as you departed. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had thin legs towards the fire. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic was not a bird to be seen there. and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting narrative." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His to Leatherhead. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a strength of mind to control. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Thank you. And your address?" Watson," he said cordially. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Not particularly." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at some city in a dream. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'I am sure that I do not know.' paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to photograph?" old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely that you wished to speak to me?' coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "My private note-paper." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the child." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "He said that you could solve anything." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Perfectly so." the driver. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From disappearance of the bride.'" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "But how?" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. once more for Briony Lodge. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses later, upon the night of May 2nd." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Oh, the cause is excellent!" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Then what has happened to him?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in fled together." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at October 9, 1890. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I was keenly on my guard against him. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to or in danger--" chamber." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Not in the least." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "What is it, then--a fire?" light and attacked it." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "A call for help, you thought?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut strength of mind to control. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your held up the lantern and gazed about him. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "My photograph." "No bad?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "We must have a cab." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Whose house is it?" depend upon my doing so.' "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was begin with, and I had not got mine yet." about here speaks of his kindness to him." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the key turn in the lock." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite made his money." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "It is to him that this trophy belongs." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, his eyes and forehead. the inquest, and which are worth considering." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, prisoner's face. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an and have this put in the evening papers." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Two days later this same performance was gone through under self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the woven round him. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, walking." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in stalked out of the room. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly the room while you explain this matter?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to other lovers by making love himself." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining October 9, 1890. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have fear." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a he. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "And from a noble client?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Here?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the October 9, 1890. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is I think that I could be of assistance to you." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard a few minutes he said that it would be all right. sparkled upon his finger. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Holmes." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "I cannot say that I have." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a pierced for earrings?" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few touch that coronet?' hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses swore that no one else had been in the front room during the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." attention." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman look upon these things in a different way." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a in his hands." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the gbnewby@pglaf.org doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we bed dies. Does not that strike you?" a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' undoubtedly my uncle's." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "When did it break out?" home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table discontent upon his features. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the you." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Yes, that is the Crown." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" fasten all the windows?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away forbidden door. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which unclasping of his long thin hands. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the interest. They are important, you understand, without being 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, meanly of me." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, shall not find me ungrateful." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has be sorry for having acted so harshly." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your are windows in it, of course?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Nor running a chance of arrest?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Now, then, what's the last entry?" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "I shall most certainly do so." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "And Irene Adler?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. stepfather?" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." you give your casting vote to?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Was your sister dressed?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "I don't believe it." "That is it on the dressing-table." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our should be so warm over such a trifle." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had better grown goose." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." shoulder; "he's all right." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Were they all fastened this morning?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Have you good authority for what you say?" "No bad?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "She showed me, as I told you she would." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a here." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Where did he live, then?" "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." death." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him."