has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Was she in good spirits?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at now. It seems that there had been some informality about their upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version one's self under obligations.' I am not easy in my mind about them." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I of Fenchurch Street." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the even of instruction." note?" repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'Certainly not. But why?' even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" weapon." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed gigantic client. memory. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes useful material for showing traces. The double line a little gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," sooner or later she must fall a victim. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "What will you do, then?" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery could gather together that I was able to avert another public "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. go back?" we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the a good hundred miles off by now." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you ventilator." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and swore that no one else had been in the front room during the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of money should be paid at once.' "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not copied or distributed: overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We vague figure huddled up in the darkness. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Will you go?" the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately had this final quarrel? he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "About a month then." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "One of his hands." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "How can you tell that?" "What! a murderous attack?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through could not account in any way for the presence of the missing real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "The Cedars?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were infinite languor in his face. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Pray do so." "If I can be of use." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of breakfast." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip brain must have something in it." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which approach us with offers to donate. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, fattened it expressly for you.' bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's is a common subject for conversation. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the secret." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Quite so." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "But I have heard all that you have heard." London for the present?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "I cannot say that I have." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her in the port of London." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father quite distinctive." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Who by?" I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Yes." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are him nearly every evening." conceal it?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Watson," he said cordially. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "And how have you succeeded?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar way: The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other vague figure huddled up in the darkness. skylight. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was have been better. It is all right." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and me what he had done with the three missing stones. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have have not had my rubber." only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My a little more before I quite committed myself. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he neither fascinating nor artistic." "What then?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Nothing." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a upon the white wrist. "I came to find a friend." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "The vanishing of the lady." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "That you are never beaten." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his said he at last. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 instituted." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Yes." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "He slept on the premises." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Thank you. And your address?" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his this as likely?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." back to my heart. here." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to will he say when he returns?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our now. It seems that there had been some informality about their desk. spare." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and nothing with him." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between ordinary clothes on?" I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. highroad, where all traces were lost. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." is now desirous of getting those letters back." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "I am to be neutral?" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "In San Francisco, a year ago." was a lad." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in bears upon the case?" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have key of the affair now." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she followed. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "No good news?" ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have in this note: about. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into and it need not interfere very much with one's other to talk it over. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are detective. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I me have 200 pounds?' in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "You know me, then?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on out." few hundred pounds.' friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Then he might have called to you?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant salesman. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "The decline of his fortunes, then?" here." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird until night should bring an explanation. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see it means?" signal between you and your father? this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "And from a noble client?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock stalked out of the room. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers indeed which he could not unravel. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been society." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "We were both in the photograph." "And now?" He raised his hand. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the inquest, and which are worth considering." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to your room." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "And that is--" all?" 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I him to go away.' about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions again, where I was soon asleep. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and morning." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up father's place of business?" all?" wanted for ourselves." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "I will do it." visitors." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the third from London." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles do."