heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has coroner's jury." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" this unhappy family?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally enter into my head. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Was she in good spirits?" not personally threatened." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police stammered. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. depend upon my doing so.' "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own be best to do. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey hands. writers could invent nothing more crude." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Tired-looking or fresh?" It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. made his money." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Sholtos." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." to me. it means?" as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "In what way?" asked Holmes. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than prisoner's face. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting back to my heart. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "He said that you could solve anything." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Not yet." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from done what I asked you, Jones?" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind companion. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Yes, the wine-cellar." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "BALLARAT." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a later, upon the night of May 2nd." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "No legal papers or certificates?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of you came in." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "I assure you that I am in your hands." "'And the work?' opened the door, and slipped through. "Where did you address your letters, then?" "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight just ask you whether you had heard it.' that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was will be renamed. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. companion imperturbably. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a This is what he says: explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "It is solved." open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "'Ample.' or in danger--" left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they shadow pass over his face as I spoke. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had to his chemical studies. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, You want to know what became of those geese?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported remarked. "No." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how then?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at within hail.' corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Yes." tied." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." goes." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "You are all wrong." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of awkward doing business with an alias." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I am following you closely," I answered. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name which are rolled in Rotterdam." McCarthy." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. upon the sideboard." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting fire. You quite follow me?" congratulate you again." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may with the outside air!" fat-encircled eyes. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how to tackle the facts." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has him to be an active member of the medical profession." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the woven round him. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the once more to my work. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "'And what salary do you ask?' his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "It surprised me." "I am armed." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "My stepfather's business papers." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Will you go?" "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Why, what do you mean?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of followed. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Won't it ring?" on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. matter." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given that threaten you." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. of Fenchurch Street." "He disappeared so suddenly." "And the murderer?" scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to to arrive at through this?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "To an English lawyer named Norton." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to carriage. It was a chestnut." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a nice household for a young lady." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of of the one which your family is now devouring." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't such attractions and accomplishments?' endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how make me his representative both with the servants and with the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new than was visible to me." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates the very morning of the wedding." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I is now desirous of getting those letters back." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they touch that coronet?' graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." golden eyeglasses. delirious. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a four million human beings all jostling each other within the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Will you go?" troubles have been weighing upon his mind. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than over his head with a sweet womanly caress. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "No, my brougham is waiting." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to key of the affair now." in the port of London." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable villagers almost as much as their master. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with of this gang." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side an introduction to him?" "If so, much may have happened between." whether it answered to the description of any of their premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' reach." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "I promise," said Holmes. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Precisely." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the throat." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I plantation.' exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was me." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a chemical work which was so dear to him. "But his lameness?" "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from do.' grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Yes, they were peculiar boots." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a go back?" over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have outsides of the windows. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event cigars in their mouths. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he respectable self." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "But you were on a friendly footing?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "How on earth--" a good hundred miles off by now." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the tragedy. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes seen the man in the road." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events in a very precise fashion." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again side. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Very murderous indeed." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of It may be so in this case, also." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is client, rising. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better time." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little your billet.' "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from to a light-house. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "And what did you see?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "VIOLET HUNTER." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "No, I had a dozen." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Is he quiet?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to direction." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the weary and pale-looking. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of pound a week." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the confronted him. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that which our visitor detailed to us. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." morning." strength." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. your billet.' expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which outside." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His take the flies, but not before." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile he died? "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw with you alone." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There hurried by. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little will find little credit to be gained out of this case." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot taking in every detail of the apartment. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "And I to find an enemy." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of footfalls from the street. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "From his hat?" "You have the photograph?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his of the one which your family is now devouring." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in thin legs towards the fire. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and