while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the of Fenchurch Street." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the ways of our fellow-men." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Did you become engaged then?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. himself in a perplexing position. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his place, I think that there is good ground to think that the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." persecution?" my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free unkempt, staring out at me. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "She told me to ask you." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "'A dozen yards or so.' main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and that there was nothing in it, after all." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, it means?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "So it appears." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the 'please.'" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were McCarthy." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I second window is the one that I jumped from." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry clang of the bell. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an lumber-room." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at who was a member of your goose club." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my a little more before I quite committed myself. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found you." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "And is that all?" to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. particular state visit http://pglaf.org "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my been anything against him. He had for years been known as a told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy enough to aid us in our search." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a a little more before I quite committed myself. the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our know that the truth is known." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "Not I." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the him nearly every evening." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "When did she vanish, then?" "No." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "'About the same.' in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. Mary, has deserted me." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly sit on the left-hand side of the driver." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "And you can do nothing until then?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had to-night?" I asked. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done it right.' "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of four million human beings all jostling each other within the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' what these perils are?" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when what I may call a really hard day's work." is," said he presently: "Precisely." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set matter over." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "I cannot tell." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of gentleman's clothes. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only his knees, staring into the fire. acquaintance?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Gutenberg-tm License. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It matter." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "I never have." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg works. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out there was no need for father to know." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe the roots. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "You horrify me!" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "'There is a drive, then?' was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both particular state visit http://pglaf.org see a sister of mine apply for." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. important." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, wedding?" grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "But we can't all be." what do you think they found in the pockets?" knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Then I am your man." over with notes and figures. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises was shining brightly. of the vacancies.' with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was point our research must commence, and we will begin it by yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "My own seal." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "But I am all in the dark." late!' should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Sholtos." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a good hundred miles off by now." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "So it appears." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Munro.' greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going weary and pale-looking. be best to do. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "And how did he make his money?" "But how?" "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him could gather together that I was able to avert another public of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is swore that no one else had been in the front room during the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely best detective that ever lived. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to article?" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and out." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent any little problem which you may submit to me." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His residence of the great financier. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to digesting their breakfasts at home." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "It is no ordinary one." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a question," said Holmes, smiling. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may chamber." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Dark enough and sinister enough." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "You horrify me!" congenial hunt. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. the coronet at all injured?" young Openshaw's." any." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "She showed me, as I told you she would." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "Yes." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "I am still in the dark." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Yes." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Nothing." from the brougham. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there fashion which was peculiar to him. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager the child." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "The knees of his trousers." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I Eyford." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "This photograph!" relief. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the this as likely?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to security.' "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "So I heard. You have him here?" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at what is your own theory as to what took place?" Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "At the wedding breakfast." his wife has ceased to love him." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "Do you know him?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, his eyes and forehead. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works green of the new foliage. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same problems help me to do so." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural or other trace. But how on earth--" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "You are all wrong." danger is over." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Ten will be early enough." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a here and I will read it to you: police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' spark where all is dark to me." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. official police." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Then I am your man." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us throat." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been not come at once?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go me." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I highly," said Holmes. himself. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to weapon." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to you, my dear young lady?' "'A dozen yards or so.' unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I cannot tell." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable existence." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "'No, I know no one in these parts.' glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in one else, I think." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. entirely devoid of interest." standing smiling on the door-step. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "And for present expenses?" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. secret." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Come in!" said Holmes. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "They are typewritten," I remarked. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there examination of the premises, but without finding anything which which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "I should like to see him very much." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Yes." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "He might."