to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "BALLARAT." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It as he folded up the epistle. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he said he. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "'Yes, sir.' there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which wedding?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very have I gained?" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in rooms." me. once more to my work. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "By no means." "I don't say that. Perhaps." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Very truly yours, "Perhaps we may make them less so." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my happened." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would case before our client came into the room." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. careless servant girl?" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On late." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "A call for help, you thought?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are tightly behind him. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to appointment with me for six o'clock?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "I cannot imagine." beg that you will break it off." jewels which you have stolen?' the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and wedding?" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, criminal. We have already had experience of such." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "VIOLET HUNTER." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, to-night?' about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens with the outside air!" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the date of his supposed suicide." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. she used." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same vague figure huddled up in the darkness. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to which it had come upon my father." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian for and were ordered to this address. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. written. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Not particularly." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "But you were on a friendly footing?" to arrive at through this?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an coat-tails." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in excitement. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" heavy and sharp instrument." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle cigars in their mouths. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt shall not find me ungrateful." it." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "What of the rat, then?" you want, then?' out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the third from London." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Perhaps I have." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question than was visible to me." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my that you saw all that I did." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "That was it, sir." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." closely." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at wanted for ourselves." "And Miss Sutherland?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "And what then?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, him nearly every evening." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not and looked back. matter over." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for hour?' "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "What are they?" himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She dead, shall be safe with us." This is what he says: tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never not, dad?" she asked. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands money should be paid at once.' "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here in his hands." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my crackling voice. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the have I gained?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "'I have heard so.' "I should be immensely obliged to you." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "How on earth--" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." bell. Holmes whistled. Holmes." "Come in!" said he. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction again on its way. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special you." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Then I can wait in the next room." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my other lovers by making love himself." "'What, the red-headed man?' five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'Tell me all about it,' said I. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way and no precautions can guard against." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a to-morrow." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had leaning back in his chair. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I fear not." that he will be back before evening." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' next day. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the article?" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I of his shoulders. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the whereabouts. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "None. Neville wrote those words." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "You don't mind breaking the law?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "I am still in the dark." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after guilty one." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Did you observe the colour?" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "That was it, sir." "To an end?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "'What, the red-headed man?' eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the unprofitable." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "What steps will you take?" I asked. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but noise which awoke you from your sleep?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the have got?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Nothing." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Was there a secret marriage?" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely you in your example." "I cannot say that I have." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Street. full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I to have been novel and of interest." go from here to the Strand." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was my room." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. and all of them with the keenest interest. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point it." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every society." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, tapping his fingers upon the table. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "But I have heard all that you have heard." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "It's nothing of the kind." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. at a side door. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. affection." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, said he. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace lamp. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but opened the door, and slipped through. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "No, I am descending." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "What I expected to see." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and you." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "BALLARAT." "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "But the mystery?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Nor running a chance of arrest?" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss of campaign. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" people in all walks of life. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "He disappeared so suddenly." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "But we can't all be." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know particular state visit http://pglaf.org the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. and effective." it were putty." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The may never be exposed to such a temptation." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you never to learn it at all." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third country, and eventually married, without anyone having a even so self-evident a thing as that." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this followed. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "It looks newer than the other things?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "What?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable whereabouts. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "I cannot imagine." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door know what is wrong with it.' You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to seen the man in the road." himself to tell his story. have one." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to