whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "What then?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea hand, madam?" sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the little opening for the ventilator is." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "To an end?" "Seven!" I answered. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. of it with the greatest attention. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from returning from some small jollification and was making his way which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside characteristics, but those are the more obvious." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my congenial hunt. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the all that?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable his cane at the bell-pull. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. the running down." "Yes." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the Stoke Moran." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but should be so warm over such a trifle." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the Friday. Was it to be in church?" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his congratulate you again." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a people don't know." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in the so-precious time, but come!' "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only which our visitor detailed to us. "'Most admirably.' find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "'What, the red-headed man?' particular state visit http://pglaf.org high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do bonnet, and went out." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the him nearly every evening." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious present strange and interesting features that it is no easy This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and call the police, let the police find what they can.' Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "The gentleman I describe." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking nothing of it?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "One of the highest in England." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn shoulder; "he's all right." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" interest. They are important, you understand, without being prisoner's face. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it call the police, let the police find what they can.' "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall anything to do with the matter?" next day. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any walking." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently gbnewby@pglaf.org one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "It was." my room." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out will not take me long to tell. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even might help us?" to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there place no limit on the sum I may draw." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the general public were present, then?" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "What have you done?" asked Holmes. his huge brown hands. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Yes, all." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "She told me to ask you." hereditary King of Bohemia." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but him!" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come look dissatisfied." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such not fit the lock." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the so-precious time, but come!' fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "No, I think that I'll take it." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Not particularly." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Eh? What was that?" present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "It's nothing of the kind." unkempt, staring out at me. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us where Mr. Fordham shows you.' posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." locked. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak 'please.'" "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as remarked. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small woman who has had her own way to make in the world. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" experiences." of them has the shutters up.' upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery this as likely?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "How often?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. anything to do with the matter?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the when you have done it." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his tear off another piece?' Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I hurried by. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to night.' said he. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. has little to do with my story." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, you understand?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this was a lad." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made before the coroner and the police-court." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, second." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. despaired of." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide not interfere, come what may. You understand?" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for again on its way. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Ten will be early enough." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from rooms." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, some terrible trap for her." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which congenial hunt. "In which, sir?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their page at http://pglaf.org conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "You will not go there first?" set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, a good hundred miles off by now." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." indiscretion." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" annoyance, but no jest. not as remarkable as your advertisement." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, national property. I was determined that the law should have its lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She and no precautions can guard against." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Where to?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "I am armed." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "That's no good." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said place of silver." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We your sleep?' peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Not social, then?" "By no means." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, of this gang." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "On your arm?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see behind me. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door miles off. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every thin legs towards the fire. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is your bag." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little sparkled upon his finger. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my already referred to. "In San Francisco, a year ago." do you make of it all?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was as he remarks, very much against the son." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "That is also quite modern," said the lady. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Holmes' room. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew hereditary King of Bohemia." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Was your sister dressed?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "The gentleman I describe." memory. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "This concluded the examination of the witness." fishes. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade had a long day." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with despaired of." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "I never have." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr.