myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he shall not find me ungrateful." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a see a sister of mine apply for." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in nothing of it?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the what these perils are?" and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "In the cells." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally third from London." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. in darkness. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Yes." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "I am in hopes that she does." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their relation between them, and what the object of his repeated crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his knowledge of the world." returning from some small jollification and was making his way hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into me upon any point which I do not make clear." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "You think so, too?" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me back to my heart. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any perplexity from it to my illustrious client. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as all that?" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the up this clue while it is still hot." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United present." "In answer to an advertisement." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His chambers. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch carried out of court." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." all that?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which good-night and bustled off upon her way. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one hour?' come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish mysterious business." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "There is the writing." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, kindly on the shoulder. all-comprehensive glances. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "It is half-past ten now." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, nights." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage said he. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Holmes, the busybody!" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "My last client of the sort was a king." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from mystery!" placed his cuttings. the inner apartment." placed his cuttings. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his mystery!" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is that he will be back before evening." new duties?' can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "My dear Holmes!" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Will you go?" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's status with the IRS. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, to-night?" I asked. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "He slept on the premises." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, suspect him." answered with a sidelong glance. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every how narrow had been my escape. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "I cannot tell." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad it." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some father's young wife. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here way in everything. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "To an end?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner directors, with the result that you have seen." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he You want to know what became of those geese?" "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have round with crates and massive boxes. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own to change my dress. front of me. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." weapon." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself any more." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical works. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return what these perils are?" his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and directors, with the result that you have seen." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my carried out of court." His name is Francis Prosper." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the stable lane now." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "I fear not." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Yes." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Why? What do you mean?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." the very morning of the wedding." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has I think that I could be of assistance to you." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Street. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. not as remarkable as your advertisement." entirely devoid of interest." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "I say that I have solved it." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his exactly what you advise." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project best detective that ever lived. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our followed. "It is true that I have been generally successful." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Will you bet, then?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. which was all perfectly true. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "I have come for advice." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to off." 1.F. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony down in his armchair and closing his eyes. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me train.' smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "A call for help, you thought?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "And your father? Did you tell him?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." late." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, room had already been engaged for us. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "No, I am descending." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "You are hungry," I remarked. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the Chief Executive and Director combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately the dangers which encompass me." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have retorted upon me, and I on you." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare some terrible trap for her." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Yes." Sholtos." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "When did she vanish, then?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "No, finished." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable she slowly sank and died without having recovered her foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a face and glided from the room. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train examine." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "'Never.' than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "By no means." "I beg pardon." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Sutherland?" "What will you say?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his that he has suffered." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other up this clue while it is still hot." matter over." nice household for a young lady." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "By all means." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "Nothing." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "That is also quite modern," said the lady. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no long narrative. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "If so, much may have happened between." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "What will you say?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the