had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold indiscretion." occurred." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips in the dead of the night?' January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Seven!" I answered. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "And now?" I asked. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & highroad, where all traces were lost. his face which made him a very different person to the round, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "He is dead," cried several voices. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Nothing?" breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at II. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, front of me. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the do.' his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable where she found matters as described by the last witness. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, I am not easy in my mind about them." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the upon the sideboard." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, to a light-house. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that yet." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. conduct the inquiry." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes way in." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, voice, changing her seat as requested. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what in the hope of finding them." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the What do you deduce from it?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could client, rising. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Yes, I have one waiting." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Quite so. She has her freedom." tell them apart.' ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in it." "What shall I do?" quick march!" looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out all?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a and wait." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. strength." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these attention." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "By all means." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred was shining brightly. nights." the salesman. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. again." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "You were travelling in the States?" "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been have an American origin." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a absolutely follow my advice in every respect." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may things are very often connected not with the larger but with the hand, madam?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. success. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "It came here." "'A dozen yards or so.' drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." pressing in one house as in another. "Yes." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "But your client--" with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length words came to my lips. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Precisely." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Chief Executive and Director everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but thirty. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "But your client--" "You have carte blanche." the inner apartment." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Certainly." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning the roots. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "By train from Waterloo." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural out." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar throat." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic within hail.' demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I served to weaken the effect. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. individual and becomes the badge of a society." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from to have been novel and of interest." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot without success. At last the little money which I had saved began companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out sneer upon his pale face. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in look upon these things in a different way." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my soul! here is her carriage at the door." call for it in person on Monday morning.' passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "I have hopes." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "I answered that I had not. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "'In my own bureau.' all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution sneer upon his pale face. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found be best to do. some city in a dream. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' where Mr. Fordham shows you.' his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Then you may be so with me." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have vault. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the hand, madam?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." compunction about shooting them down." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Whose house is it?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone could not account in any way for the presence of the missing not within a twentieth part of the market price." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "I think that I had better go, Holmes." be best to do. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough searched, without anything being found which could incriminate it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "In what way?" asked Holmes. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in woven round him. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "His face fell immediately. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two key turn in the lock." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then absolutely follow my advice in every respect." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor sound at heart." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" along the entire front of the house, with three long windows Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my dramatic, in fact." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view made his money." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "To ruin me." stepfather?" It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange which our visitor detailed to us. "Yes, I have one waiting." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a particular state visit http://pglaf.org and the whole place is in a blaze." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." despair." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. The events in question occurred in the early days of my goes." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Countess of Morcar's?" late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." other lovers by making love himself." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the forecastle of an emigrant ship. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying the armchair which I pushed forward for him. to-night." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "My last client of the sort was a king." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss business?" Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had troubles have been weighing upon his mind. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "My own seal." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a golden eyeglasses. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the locked." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have ran thus: "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in lamp in his hand. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." chamber." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, to have been novel and of interest." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The new acquaintance to Baker Street. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "VIOLET HUNTER." compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Where does the thing come from?' there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock ran thus: rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "None." pictures, libraries, or plate. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, I shall communicate with you." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the Literary Archive Foundation the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the