"God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united round with crates and massive boxes. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "A call for help, you thought?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "When did she vanish, then?" you found me to-night--and running through the front room she LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Yes, sir." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If of note-paper. It read in this fashion: as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of once more for Briony Lodge. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done over his head with a sweet womanly caress. here and I will read it to you: 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: I held the little printed slip to the light. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of crowd. "My stepfather's business papers." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm made him keep the appointment." "I have solved it." ran thus: "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Count Von Kramm." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the bottom.' "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight tapping his fingers upon the table. "And Miss Sutherland?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just only touch the interest." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." upon an income of about 60 pounds." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. my room." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "And what then?" these bleak autumnal evenings." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "'And the work?' "What! a murderous attack?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a with frightened eyes at his accuser. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the vault. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I it? Did I buy the geese off you?" the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "It looks newer than the other things?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "My photograph." mystery." "Yes, sir." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Stoke Moran." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his she might be summoned. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." main points of my analysis." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are sentimental considerations in the background which would induce matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "'Is purely nominal.' play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Miss Holder?" in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and fait accompli?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his he. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel points in connection with it which never have been, and probably what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can opened a pocket-book and took out a note. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I with you?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger unclasping of his long thin hands. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this think that he is innocent?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a locked." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then stepfather?" "It is possible." thought that she would have been so carried away." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." even so self-evident a thing as that." "But she could not love him." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." be.' and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the made him keep the appointment." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for corner of the building. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Where, indeed?" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose passage and a tap at the door. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing vanished into the darkness. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet was feeling which was the fattest.' was not a bird to be seen there. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. towards the blaze. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Upon what point?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Yes, it was twisted." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. the coronet in his hand?" saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Yes, he did." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his It was close upon four before the door opened, and a which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "It is a murder, then?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Was there a secret marriage?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Your sister is dead, then?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we have one." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Leadenhall Street--and--" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." habit of advancing money.' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the III. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Who was the criminal, then?" stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very people don't know." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Arthur Conan Doyle other, as fresh and trim as possible. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK shaken than I had ever seen him. think that he is innocent?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the ceiling. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'I have heard so.' We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are redistribution. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided already been minutely examined." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, James Windibank. Voilà tout!" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Pray do so." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will other lovers by making love himself." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Married! When?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, clanging. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "You think so, too?" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel would apply.' "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Of what?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have in the hope of finding them." which we had just quitted. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "I came to find a friend." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "And from a noble client?" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On at my remark. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "And I to find an enemy." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. outside. results." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but me. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "You think so, too?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "No sign of it?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Precisely so. But how--" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and photograph a cabinet?" details should find their way into the papers. Inspector when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. if I call to-morrow?" note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I suspect him." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. disappearance of the bride.'" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "This photograph!" "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that the so-precious time, but come!' matters immensely." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first to have that photograph." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. depend upon my doing so.' seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was father's place of business?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Nothing." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I I took the paper from him and read as follows: 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I breakfast." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Yes. He waved his hands." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, him." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure that you saw all that I did." whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a electronic works Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the the coronet at all injured?" grasp, he hurried from the room. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to people in all walks of life. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. presented more singular features than that which was associated "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "But she will refuse."