therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be reach." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered all-comprehensive glances. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and for and were ordered to this address. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich stammered. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some events, Mr. Windibank!" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "In the cells." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It see a sister of mine apply for." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "That you are never beaten." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "The best possible." existence." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "I see no marks." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Literary Archive Foundation the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little this remarkable episode. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter on in his house." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise The King stared at him in amazement. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "This concluded the examination of the witness." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Get out!" said he. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down His name is Francis Prosper." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "I was sure that I might rely on you." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," your own bird, so if you wish--" "Yes." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, promised to bring home. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. the matter." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual was it brought him the coronet? probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how as he folded up the epistle. "And when will you call?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some strong and stiff." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "That's no good." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the business at Coburg Square is serious." closing the door. up this clue while it is still hot." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, McCarthy's innocence. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America of Mr. Rucastle's." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems a very grave face. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "My stepfather's business papers." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried other means.' "Yes, certainly." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Bought." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" keep the flames under. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a had a long day." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Yes." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but heavily into it. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I remarked. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." always that they were such commands as a lady might with But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "Your French gold?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the devil!" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean as yours." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." you understand?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had means taking possession of that which another person has a prior strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you prepare for the new role I have to play." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." all?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "I cannot imagine." official police." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Where did you address your letters, then?" and inquire as to the address." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little the roots. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "The King of Scandinavia." where we are going." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "You have compromised yourself seriously." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the side-table." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose to affect your life." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and your bag." down. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined of Fenchurch Street." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence joking. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very business at Coburg Square is serious." "No, distinctly professional." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO there in twenty minutes." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his shaken than I had ever seen him. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "'Yes.' "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" young Openshaw's." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "By no means." "What can you not understand?" "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning suddenly upon us." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must McCarthy." strength of mind to control. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "And Miss Sutherland?" over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." union?" someone who had been in Australia." business matters.' and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for both be extremely obliged.' hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the allusion to a rat. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the II. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Mrs. Toller serenely. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "We have tried and failed." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has your bag." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Do you receive much company?" he asked. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "I warn you that they are very incomplete." taking in every detail of the apartment. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see then?" an introduction to him?" occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been that he has suffered." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned his face which made him a very different person to the round, "At half-wages, in fact." colonel looking down at me. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. row." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Not him." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "You horrify me." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable this poor creature." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten October 9, 1890. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "To an end?" soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Just look it up, then." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were relief. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his fuss that is made over them." gone. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "In which, sir?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the I took the paper from him and read as follows: what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of occupations.' "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed McCarthy." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, think you a quite exceptional woman." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay heavily into it. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so anything to a woman, for she would have her way." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the photograph?" possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Quite so. She has her freedom." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. of his shoulders. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Certainly." "How many? I don't know." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl assist you in forming an opinion." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic gone. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a opened the door, and slipped through. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "'Ten to two.' results." read it out to me." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will the inner apartment." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "You don't mind breaking the law?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" long narrative. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously Sholtos." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "But his lameness?" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when own family. words came to my lips. friend's singular character. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Pope's Court, Fleet Street." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may begun to whiten, even as mine has." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of address. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes,