was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've footfalls from the street. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "The murder was done with it." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of lamp in his hand. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our towards the blaze. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Where, indeed?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall only touch the interest." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and the whole place is in a blaze." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Married! When?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as the stable lane now." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much ways of our fellow-men." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "This photograph!" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." like that before?" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to wedding?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "The gentleman I describe." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened individual and becomes the badge of a society." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "You heard nothing yourself last night?" have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "This concluded the examination of the witness." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are DAMAGE. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "How did that help you?" "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "'Ten to two.' sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" he bowed and left the room without another word. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was paper in the air. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. careless servant girl?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was foot. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. bachelor.' see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which back into the street. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "'Ample.' conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine hardly wander." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'What then?' I asked. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was becomes even more simple." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a electronic works "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "And your mother is alive?" the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Do you go out much in society?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Doctor, of the paper and the date." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I might have a private word with us. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a as the one I chose?' "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would washing it down with a long draught of water. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes down. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "What can you not understand?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little Does that suggest anything?" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "'About the same.' "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." weapon." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for quickly through a disagreeable task. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Yes." "This photograph!" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Perhaps we may make them less so." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "It missed him, then?" There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'Is purely nominal.' "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous ways of our fellow-men." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we of note-paper. It read in this fashion: beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "What, then, did Peterson do?" dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Yes." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Was the window open?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he to have that photograph." man. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, as this. Pray let me have the details." miles off. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this the best of training." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the it with his own hands." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in union?" grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "What is it, then--a fire?" ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same daring than any effort of the imagination." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help his cane at the bell-pull. tear off another piece?' fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "'Oh, no.' sit on the left-hand side of the driver." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging me upon any point which I do not make clear." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "And why?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from whatever might befall. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I occupations.' twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Very much so." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring voice. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the his grey eyes. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices it were putty." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Pray do so." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. your most interesting statement." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong union?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he to have been novel and of interest." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few bell. Holmes whistled. young Openshaw's." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about upon an income of about 60 pounds." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually down in his armchair and closing his eyes. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "I will try. What is it?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to a little more before I quite committed myself. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get locked." done what I asked you, Jones?" the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the from the brougham. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Why, what do you mean?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall to tackle the facts." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "'Certainly not. But why?' extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular to surprise her." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a you do it in twenty minutes!' "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "You don't mind breaking the law?" "Then, how do you know?" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "None." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true me. You must get home instantly and act." the station." desk. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted a room. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who forebodings. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. out of this horrible affair." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. nights." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George bill, which interests me deeply." "He said that you could solve anything." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very residence of the great financier. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's annoyance, but no jest. do you make of it all?" views." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Then, how do you know?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Because he was handy and would come cheap." in this note: lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "'What do you call purely nominal?' Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "You are hungry," I remarked. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification papers diligently of late, have you not?" must be when I saw the door open.' "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the crime. this as likely?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any him to be an active member of the medical profession." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a these bleak autumnal evenings." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "I am in hopes that she does." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the 11:15.' "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was points to suicide?" to his chemical studies. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "So I am. Very much so." "Have you it here?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Look there!" said he. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Chief Executive and Director pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the mystery may be cleared along those lines." "I say it is." "On the contrary, this is the right side." coat-tails." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a whereabouts. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of certainly do as you advise." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a to that open window." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "You will not go there first?" nights." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'Entirely.' out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of been lifted and conveyed somewhere." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, other means.' impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Yesterday." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?"