Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'A dozen yards or so.' in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, bonnet, and went out." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." at my remark. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Yes." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the something of him before." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every the coronet in his hand?" which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door note?" "A greater distance to travel." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which said he. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" case before our client came into the room." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, help us in this matter." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily his face. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "I cannot as yet see any connection." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Perhaps I have." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Of Friday, June 19th." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual opened the door, and slipped through. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Then you may be so with me." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Was the window open?" you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge was a loud and authoritative tap. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be know all about it," he snarled. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching be. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate best detective that ever lived. "You will not go there first?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that the address that was given us in the advertisement. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian to have been novel and of interest." were wasted." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten my room." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common better in every way that they should make their position a little "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three are windows in it, of course?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down client, rising. corner of the building. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against that I can to serve you." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in business matters.' 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the stable lane now." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found mysterious business." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his is so. I know all about McCarthy." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do bedroom door." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "Never." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "To an English lawyer named Norton." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "The rest you will leave in our hands." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "She will not sell." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "And Miss Sutherland?" "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "They are typewritten," I remarked. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "I cannot imagine." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, coat-tails." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch have established a very serious case against the son of the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "That is not always so easy." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable fled together." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Oh, yes, easily." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in horse could go." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? later, upon the night of May 2nd." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. strength in the others." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some The police have openly confessed that they can at present make a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, charged with?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the his cane at the bell-pull. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "If I can be of use." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, fuss that is made over them." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "So I am. Very much so." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." and laid it on the table. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Stoke Moran?" said he. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "It certainly sounds feasible." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "I see many objections to any such theory." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "But we can't all be." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." any." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my your room." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "I don't believe it." as he folded up the epistle. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "And you can do nothing until then?" to you." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** nice household for a young lady." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "My stepfather's business papers." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those quick march!" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Never." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "It is true that I have been generally successful." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "I will do it." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "My stepfather's business papers." "Yes, the wine-cellar." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional have established a very serious case against the son of the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about your equipment. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. fat-encircled eyes. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "I think it very unlikely." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' whole matter to your consideration." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "You are certainly joking, Holmes." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "He disappeared so suddenly." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply straightened it out again. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "'Certainly not. But why?' by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is have one." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little of it with the greatest attention. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Not in a good cause." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon of the efforts of the United States government and of the better explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was held up the lantern and gazed about him. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "He said that you could solve anything." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to think, you have already met." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" vault. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Why, what do you mean?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been front of the hall door has given its name to the place. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I the morning and make my own way in the world.' there!' we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my fattened it expressly for you.' companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few in him." "Where did you address your letters, then?" "That is possible." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "I think it very unlikely." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No to-night?" I asked. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "Her father is very rich?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just presented more singular features than that which was associated "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting weigh very heavily upon my conscience." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "You saw the ventilator, too?" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, strong and stiff." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," call the police, let the police find what they can.' our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money if I call to-morrow?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have garden below. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "A greater distance to travel." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "One of his hands." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "But how?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Not I." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his there were so many in the whole country as were brought together his cane at the bell-pull. noting anything else of interest. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "You'll never persuade me to believe that." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated certainly not very gracious." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The foot. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "It was." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "You know me, then?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock correct than the official force." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "'I have already given you my word.' "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Why did you beat the pavement?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a shoulder. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, have had none more fantastic than this." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. redistribution. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson that he has suffered." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Chief Executive and Director both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "'Not at all. I only doubt--' presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Did you observe the colour?" "Because he was handy and would come cheap." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." business." "It is half-past ten now." "It looks newer than the other things?" "Not social, then?" in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal of Fenchurch Street." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the affair. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Very much so." "But what is it you wish?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to ashen face. "And when will you call?" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "'It is locked up,' I answered. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that bears upon the case?" Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "'Which dealer's?' way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his companion. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, DAMAGE. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about