present." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This questionable one." "How did you trace it, then?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Who was the criminal, then?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I cannot tell." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "'You doubt its value?' he asked. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he maid will bring up your coffee." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a that I am arrested." had formerly been in part my own. ceremony." that I may have something better before very many minutes are detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "What can it mean?" I gasped. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "But what is it you wish?" to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "I never have." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to you came in." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "VIOLET HUNTER." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but happened." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "I have hopes." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Have you her photograph?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and nonsense.' I nodded again. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll newspaper selections." "If so, much may have happened between." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall the bottom.' utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg a room. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "The vanishing of the lady." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might of the efforts of the United States government and of the better company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "And I." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the coronet at all injured?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his the bed, and you in that chair." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I crackling voice. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his you, my dear young lady?' "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the What do you deduce from it?" "Where, then, is my wife?" "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do his grey eyes. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." one else, I think." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a might help us?" note?" ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much quite distinctive." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the which was all perfectly true. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an official police." "But you were on a friendly footing?" have I gained?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which three fields round his house, and there he would take his horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled points to suicide?" "'Quite sure, dad.' should be taken.' works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Of what day?" all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot said he. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the ceiling. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap breakfast?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel him nearly every evening." just ask you whether you had heard it.' gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining putting in the horse. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious she might be summoned. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "The Cedars?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that cheerful." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; grasp, he hurried from the room. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's lost nothing by them." annoyance, but no jest. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. be there in time for your coming." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Yes." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "What! Had he lost his wife?" every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a felt?" "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he murdered man." house for five minutes.' "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my back to my heart. as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Yes, they were peculiar boots." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken God! What an exposure! What can I do?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Get out!" said he. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "The best possible." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "'Quite sure, dad.' allusion to a rat. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker despaired of." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place You want to know what became of those geese?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to see a sister of mine apply for." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they you." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "But how did you gain them?" up this clue while it is still hot." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, him to be an active member of the medical profession." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's know what is wrong with it.' words came to my lips. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Indeed! Whose, then?" Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "And who is her maid?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in really the only notable feature about the thing." would then never go into court at all." said he at last. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Pope's Court. where she found matters as described by the last witness. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I most interesting one." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Then I can wait in the next room." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads know all about it," he snarled. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs a room. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "And you don't know his address?" could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to himself in a perplexing position. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Nothing?" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about to tell." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Proceed, then." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "10th. John Swain cleared. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have American. Then who could this American be, and why should he found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a front of me. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Married! When?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock anything to a woman, for she would have her way." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the sparkled upon his finger. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "His face fell immediately. DISSOLVED. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "No, I think that I'll take it." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Holmes." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." nonsense.' routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Holmes." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, married her." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' within hail.' go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in of campaign. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Well, some hundreds of times." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, said I. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they eavesdroppers?' passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I approached. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. had a long day." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "And Irene Adler?" his knees, staring into the fire. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have would apply.' conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any Street. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net cup of tea. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could as he remarks, very much against the son." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as criminal. We have already had experience of such." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your been able to understand it, in a very few words. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Eh? What was that?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." with some details as to your case." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "An enemy?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'Never.' "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "So I have heard." approach us with offers to donate. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, of a light. "And why?" more terrible than the truth. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole with her." has little to do with my story." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who have established a very serious case against the son of the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' daring than any effort of the imagination." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in clanging. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon my secret was safe in his possession. meant." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his tell them apart.' "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "It is his hat."