headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my fishes. as he folded up the epistle. knowledge of the world." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I cannot tell." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every was a perfect sample of the class. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it outsides of the windows. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what all that?" Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the again before evening." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the like that before?" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a spark where all is dark to me." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; open." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "May I see it?" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk strength in the others." Gutenberg-tm License. "Precisely so. But how--" against a man in the prime of life?" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, green of the new foliage. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "You horrify me." "It looks newer than the other things?" presume?" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which DAMAGE. key of the affair now." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with that?' "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. the bed, and you in that chair." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey interest. They are important, you understand, without being McCarthy." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main call you and give you the chance." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent instituted." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Where is it, then?" description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City I shall communicate with you." the roots. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "The doctor?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "The King of Scandinavia." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double served to weaken the effect. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Yes. He waved his hands." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': cigars in the box." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, the bed, and you in that chair." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit acted in my house last night?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in triumphant cloud from his cigarette. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly relation between them, and what the object of his repeated could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in call you and give you the chance." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "You have a clue?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it questionable one." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "It is possible." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "So I have heard." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if already been minutely examined." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do goes." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she which we had just quitted. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to what these perils are?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." straightened it out again. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days to talk it over. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," crackling voice. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner considering the formidable letters which were received by himself could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to case-book, which he consulted. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who and a shock of very red hair. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A row." "Very much so." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as companion quietly. one of the states of the Union." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled stammered. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a became a certainty. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house shall not find me ungrateful." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." reach." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "I will, Miss Turner." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "It goes to the housekeeper's room." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "I should be immensely obliged to you." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." prisoner's face. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Where, then, is my wife?" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, it." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Holmes' face clouded over. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "One horse?" interjected Holmes. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic cigars in their mouths. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was than to us. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss http://gutenberg.net/license). "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Is he quiet?" credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the when you have done it." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal again, where I was soon asleep. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of secret." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "What have you to say now?" "Who by?" Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern footfalls from the street. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "The gentleman I describe." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he be. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as and prosperity to your house. Good-night." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." spark where all is dark to me." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Very much so." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a has little to do with my story." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too was a loud and authoritative tap. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, legal crime." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life bell. Holmes whistled. other, as fresh and trim as possible. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "And you can do nothing until then?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the station." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "He said that you could solve anything." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "What have you done?" asked Holmes. that you wished to speak to me?' photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are society." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his you?" every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Yes, at the mines." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "And I say east," said my patient. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning looking up at the numbers of the houses." "But his left-handedness." hereditary King of Bohemia." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "What do you make of that, Watson?" central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to families. Now for the facts. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus conversation I have gathered that they have been married about walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double leaning back in his chair. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "But what will you do?" I have it here in my museum." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned as noiselessly as she had come. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the closing the door. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No in darkness. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" My friend smiled. second." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." redistribution. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I happened." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, me where it went to?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for God! What an exposure! What can I do?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it get the tickets." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions and that he would see to anything that turned up. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "'Where could I find him?' nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this to miss it." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "In which, sir?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened handed it to him. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "It is possible." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. the bed, and you in that chair." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of o'clock is it?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in arms and began to sob in a high treble key. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "What! Had he lost his wife?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of client, rising. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, straighten it?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is man. I know him from the photograph." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "'What do you call purely nominal?' 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms noise which awoke you from your sleep?" was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much dates and names. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with be best to do. "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "What do you mean?" she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the ourselves in the office." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "And you can do nothing until then?" total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Why did you beat the pavement?" are, and they are waiting for us."