vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "I will not look." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "The King of Scandinavia." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried it were putty." hard-headed British jury." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which distinguish the words: can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train the devil!" "What have you to say now?" him to be an active member of the medical profession." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who astonishment. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is just ask you whether you had heard it.' observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "She showed me, as I told you she would." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a touch that coronet?' on re-entering her father's house?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are shag which I had seen upon the previous night. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not along the entire front of the house, with three long windows not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. affection." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a outside. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty wedding?" retorted upon me, and I on you." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" footfalls from the street. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Sutherland. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever will find little credit to be gained out of this case." some terrible trap for her." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the upon a handsome competence. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." so far?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "I will not look." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or his eyes and forehead. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we train.' hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an to a more successful conclusion." "No." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or For additional contact information: "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "But you can know nothing of this?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient McCarthy." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and guilty one." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the south-west, I see." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But fear." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "My own seal." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear lamp. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Mary, has deserted me." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had his knees, staring into the fire. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I returned to France?" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in help us in this matter." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he them?" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "You have it, sir, just as it happened." him nearly every evening." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "That sounds a little paradoxical." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I miles off. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good Lestrade of Scotland Yard." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Certainly." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your locked. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Miss Holder?" "And I say east," said my patient. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again there when the Rucastles went away." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "What will you say?" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the on re-entering her father's house?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "How did that help you?" he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning his forehead." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the despair." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "It was an hour's good drive." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which will take you up to see the machine.' that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign companion. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of have been better. It is all right." "That is it on the dressing-table." "Yes, it was twisted." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from invisible to me," I remarked. Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally skylight. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Whose house is it?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged entirely lost his self-respect." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these legal crime." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the with her." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond sound at heart." have I gained?" pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to amused." "No, thank goodness, she did not." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you attention." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "The Coroner: What do you mean? grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all not use it unless it is absolutely needed." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "How do you know, then?" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the a very grave face. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "She will not sell." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 is acting for the best. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "You don't mind breaking the law?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. sake, don't!" row." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "ARAT," I read. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled there is a decided draught." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Your sister is dead, then?" "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I am in hopes that she does." tell me that you intended to go into harness." questionable one." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," arrangements." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "But what will you do?" do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock could go. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The is acting for the best. "How did you deduce the select?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." your only hope of safety." "Dr. Becher's." as he remarks, very much against the son." "I am sure." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. crowd. "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly impression behind it as though a window had gently closed and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "At the wedding breakfast." to take care of herself." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room lectures into a series of tales." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without tear off another piece?' she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "'Quite sure, dad.' pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings of your young ladies.' "He said too much." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Two days later this same performance was gone through under my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand someone who had been in Australia." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "The vanishing of the lady." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "By no means." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "No bad?" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has strength." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Where, then, is my wife?" unkempt, staring out at me. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to speckled band?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that extraordinary contortions. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps bill, which interests me deeply." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who Mrs. Toller serenely. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem face and glided from the room. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Then you may entirely rely on me." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. ago." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, putting in the horse. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, yourselves in at night?" stammered. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly woman who has had her own way to make in the world. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left have had none more fantastic than this." remarked. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun drawing your inferences." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "'What then?' I asked. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, easy-going way." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "You have the photograph?" acted in my house last night?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the gives a meaning to it." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a there has been an enclosure here!" "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Well, some hundreds of times." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." retorted upon me, and I on you." "And did you observe any change in her then?" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is been with you?" better in every way that they should make their position a little it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and habit of advancing money.' that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Then I shall certainly come." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in him!" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, nothing of it?" autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Eh? What was that?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure http://gutenberg.net/license). "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I see a sister of mine apply for." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, miles off. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it