whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is case before our client came into the room." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that orange pips. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite forehead. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who away to you." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. to you." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "An enemy?" police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" examination of the premises, but without finding anything which more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation you?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "I say it is." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "It is no ordinary one." my friend's incisive reasoning. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "How many? I don't know." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank a good hundred miles off by now." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "The best possible." "What?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "But your client--" cigar and let me expound." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman so far?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer purpose equally well?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "Who by?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do key of the affair now." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Where, indeed?" said I. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "And the cigar-holder?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences families. Now for the facts. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Then you may be so with me." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my examination of the premises, but without finding anything which in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint and the whole place is in a blaze." and the whole place is in a blaze." "Yes." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? must compliment you." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon in this way: That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "I came to find a friend." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Yes." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "No. What a strange idea!" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Yes. He waved his hands." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "I was sure that I might rely on you." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "'As governess?' and shall probably return to London by the evening train." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Yes." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I could gather together that I was able to avert another public pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the vanished into the darkness. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own lumber-room." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, window when the police appeared." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "You'll never persuade me to believe that." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm seven miles from Eyford Station.' down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we not as remarkable as your advertisement." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Who was the criminal, then?" compunction about shooting them down." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Only as much as we can deduce." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit future lives." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's directly by questioning you." conceal it?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Arthur Conan Doyle "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well seen the man in the road." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we really the only notable feature about the thing." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "But it has twice been burgled." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Did you become engaged then?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally place of silver." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I fear." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that returned to France?" least a most suspicious remark." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case open." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow impression behind it as though a window had gently closed usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he singular points about the case. What did the police think of the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the for and were ordered to this address. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the shoulder. gbnewby@pglaf.org thin, with a long, sharp nose?" refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may depend upon your compliance." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. weary and pale-looking. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." written. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," in a friendly supper." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is nothing of it?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "But his left-handedness." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, vault. and I shall be with you presently." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith I have it here in my museum." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at constraint." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be success. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang ventilator." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had most interesting one." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague the salesman. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "I do." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Then I do not see the point." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "And the murderer?" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "What will you say?" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That him to be an active member of the medical profession." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "That was it, sir." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at went to the Alpha were town bred." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "That's no good." think that he is innocent?" the date of his supposed suicide." "On your arm?" becomes even more simple." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other words came to my lips. "A call for help, you thought?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "'It is locked up,' I answered. noble correspondent could be. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'As governess?' it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly true." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Precisely so. But how--" "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my Holmes' face clouded over. "Did your wife hear all this?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "He said too much." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot the room while you explain this matter?" carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "By no means." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that you." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his what is your own theory as to what took place?" "I see many objections to any such theory." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it gigantic client. at my own good fortune. the matter." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which you in your example." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end noise which awoke you from your sleep?" which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "It is very clear." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "But how?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "How did you deduce the select?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and in. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "An enemy?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'Never,' said I. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the inquest, and which are worth considering." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of remarked. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four rose-bushes. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood the one as in the other." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "And when will you call?" "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would became a certainty. "I would give my fortune to have them back." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder compunction about shooting them down." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Where did he live, then?" which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "It came here." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "By train from Waterloo." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and were wasted." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight have not had my rubber." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the said I. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during not interfere, come what may. You understand?" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his directors have had misgivings upon the subject." plantation.' broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she useful material for showing traces. The double line a little never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens feature." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "And what then?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in anything to a woman, for she would have her way." to a more successful conclusion." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid call you and give you the chance." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Quite so." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet hardly wander." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "I will do it." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Nor running a chance of arrest?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every written. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Where is it, then?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other records." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly