companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "On Monday." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to pound a week." my little problems." highly," said Holmes. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon upon the sideboard." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of deduce something from that?" Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "And is that all?" shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of bed dies. Does not that strike you?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" are, I think, all that we need." Eyford at 11:15.' "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of is a common subject for conversation. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "To an English lawyer named Norton." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "One of the highest in England." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" would apply.' vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Was your sister dressed?" that you wished to speak to me?' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these three of the beryls in it, was missing. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was it." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' possible that we could bring him back to her? whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but Heh?' Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "No?" Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but one's self under obligations.' mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "When did it break out?" in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Yes, that is the Crown." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, congenial hunt. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he read it out to me." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he it." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a nothing with him." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Well, it is a possible supposition." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Could he throw no light?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your you want, then?' his huge brown hands. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a 1.E.9. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project room had already been engaged for us. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the horse could go." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "It certainly sounds feasible." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "'Very good.' death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "But I am all in the dark." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Then the page we have seen--" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, think, you have already met." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into character. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of it with his own hands." "A greater distance to travel." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I other lovers by making love himself." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do down from London to inquire more deeply into it." are windows in it, of course?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, someone who had been in Australia." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Thank you. Pray proceed." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Which are?" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from arrangements." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. opened the door, and slipped through. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that more terrible than the truth. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had McCarthy's innocence. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very than was visible to me." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are Sutherland. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, secret." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Stoke Moran?" said he. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. writing, and yet I know it well." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than returned to France?" 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little his eyes and forehead. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Not in the least." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "I have a cab outside." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "My private note-paper." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "It may not come to that," said Holmes. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "I will get her to show me." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage you found me to-night--and running through the front room she prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "I have hopes." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable intrusion of other matters." that threaten you." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" appointment with me for six o'clock?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "A call for help, you thought?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Pray let us have it, for all that." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered the best of training." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Yes." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger London for the present?" relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon such attractions and accomplishments?' read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "No, my brougham is waiting." presume?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made excitement. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and and wait." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "I think that I had better go, Holmes." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "And from a noble client?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which cost them two and thirty pounds." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in him to be an active member of the medical profession." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and overpowering excitement and concern. nice household for a young lady." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Did you observe the colour?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and and all of them with the keenest interest. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the best of training." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By passage and a tap at the door. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" prison!" observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "It is possible." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "And that is--" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even persecution?" separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me late." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "And for present expenses?" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. look upon these things in a different way." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "What is it?" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "But what is it you wish?" late!' you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "She will not sell." conceal it?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be ways of our fellow-men." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. get the tickets." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in might have a private word with us. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with it." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two you do it in twenty minutes!' a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." morning." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "But not more so than I to find you." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" populous neighbourhood." look upon these things in a different way." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very had a long day." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of drove away. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he breakfast and whispered something to her husband. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." meant it for the best. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily pierced for earrings?" "Entirely." severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of Sutherland. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Yes." started for the Temple to see my husband. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your been able to understand it, in a very few words. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote walking." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, DAMAGE. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all companion. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by call you and give you the chance." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, your sleep?' practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is brought there to personate someone, and the real person is know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Will you bet, then?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "'Certainly not.' "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would him. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." of it with the greatest attention. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "The gentleman I describe." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his will he say when he returns?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Yes, but only for you and me." into the bag, and made for the door. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Do you receive much company?" he asked. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by lips." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the asked. Farm upon the left." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "A confidential servant?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago."