"That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "It was a confession," I ejaculated. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been vault. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of them present such singular features as the strange train of her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Yes, the wine-cellar." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a compunction about shooting them down." despair." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a and shall probably return to London by the evening train." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I go back?" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "And what did you see?" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and nice household for a young lady." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, amused." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the ceiling. crime. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." it means?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry evidence," I remarked. "No?" been deceived." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "My dear Holmes!" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than a good hundred miles off by now." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be cigar and let me expound." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a could not account in any way for the presence of the missing an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Thank you. Pray proceed." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Come in!" said Holmes. experiences." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and or in danger--" "And why?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, some terrible trap for her." "Witness: It was. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I know all about it," he snarled. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "And that is--" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "I answered that I had not. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left outside. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is one which it was hard to resist. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an than was visible to me." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "What is it?" done what I asked you, Jones?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled populous neighbourhood." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "In San Francisco, a year ago." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I cannot say that I have." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he such person." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your should be taken.' one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the present." him!" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "No, I had a dozen." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Yes." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of which are rolled in Rotterdam." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Did you become engaged then?" But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is thought that she would have been so carried away." "'In my own bureau.' being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a waste of energy." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "If so, much may have happened between." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now see a sister of mine apply for." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, cheerful." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." such attractions and accomplishments?' little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the is acting for the best. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But attention." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "'Tell me all about it,' said I. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment success. together. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the your most interesting statement." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "VIOLET HUNTER." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It was used.' I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." his face. congenial hunt. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you where we are going." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" himself. "Where to?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Pray continue your narrative." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "So I have heard." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a take the flies, but not before." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I Holmes." "That is it on the dressing-table." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "My dear Holmes!" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed from you?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the one as in the other." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me gone. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt During two years I have had three consultations and one small the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "And I say east," said my patient. "Did you become engaged then?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Nothing." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "A confidential servant?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in such person." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the inquest, and which are worth considering." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "'I am sure that I do not know.' St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "He said too much." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" your troubles." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the points in connection with it which never have been, and probably he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "That sounds a little paradoxical." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have husband's writing, madam." within hail.' Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country on re-entering her father's house?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. carpenter." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Precisely." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. which we had just quitted. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true to tell." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. But Holmes shook his head gravely. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather nice household for a young lady." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort business at Coburg Square is serious." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." may never be exposed to such a temptation." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. appointment with me for six o'clock?" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be question," said Holmes, smiling. "Witness: It was. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose and I shall be with you presently." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. forecastle of an emigrant ship. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "And why?" may have an influence upon European history." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "My dear Holmes!" the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural fatally injured? will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a me upon any point which I do not make clear." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "No, I had a dozen." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "That is possible." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' she might be summoned. "How do you know, then?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "I am sure." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "No legal papers or certificates?" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her chance at all." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in other lovers by making love himself." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful sufficient punishment." papers on the sundial.'" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a strode off upon his way. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two corner of the building. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we lectures into a series of tales." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Henry Baker is a member." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be fish-monger and a tide-waiter." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood himself in a perplexing position. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George to-morrow." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of has little to do with my story." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure your sleep?' cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. conduct the inquiry." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "'Yes, it was gone.' a few minutes he said that it would be all right. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "How many? I don't know." ourselves in the office." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up three fields round his house, and there he would take his same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "It must be recovered." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "But she could not love him." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a problems help me to do so." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the congratulate you again." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very beg that you will break it off." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "I will try. What is it?" downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some to that open window." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Of Friday, June 19th." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "But you would not advise me to refuse?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Witness: Nothing definite. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties it."