with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east and capable of preserving a secret.' accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Ample." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "And leave your case unfinished?" framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, you." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt prison!" back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the the Red-headed League." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is felt?" clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was it? Did I buy the geese off you?" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "And how have you succeeded?" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which pressing in one house as in another. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "It may not come to that," said Holmes. interests were the same as his." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "She told me to ask you." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad at home. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "You think so, too?" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I have my revolver," said I. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that ready to-morrow?' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. weary and pale-looking. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men 'please.'" me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "'You cannot say what it was?' "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do always that they were such commands as a lady might with Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "What, then?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "I assure you that I am in your hands." 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little before, for it was considerably after midnight. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I photograph a cabinet?" expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "But I have heard all that you have heard." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, brain must have something in it." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "How about poison?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" the devil!" village inn over there?" I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "You have compromised yourself seriously." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Yes, it was twisted." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Witness: It was. least a fellow-countryman. papers." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, plantation.' many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from and files of the old papers, following the future career of every my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to past. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who correct than the official force." business in the City. She little knew what. "In what way?" asked Holmes. be.' opportunities to fix the problem. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was friend's singular character. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent had picked up in the wood. "The knees of his trousers." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "One horse?" interjected Holmes. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty carried out of court." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and dead, shall be safe with us." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it so.' which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "What, then, did Peterson do?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told appointment with me for six o'clock?" actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Of Friday, June 19th." and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting only touch the interest." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down beg that you will break it off." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Yes." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our was a lad." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his and inquire as to the address." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "And your father? Did you tell him?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, fishes. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Will you go?" merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds that I can to serve you." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, place of silver." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said over with notes and figures. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "'And the work?' you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot himself to hunt down. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle leaning back in his chair. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. approach us with offers to donate. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper what these perils are?" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "He is still with you, I presume?" at my remark. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Well." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon possible that we could bring him back to her? It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" went to the Alpha were town bred." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his he. sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not wife's character?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a south, for the country is more deserted there." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' plantation.' are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout The police have openly confessed that they can at present make then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at investigation." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: to you." so.' "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side out." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "'You cannot say what it was?' "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Not him." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We straighten it?" discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "'Certainly not.' the Friday. Was it to be in church?" dear old homesteads?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because 1.F. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the the Friday. Was it to be in church?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the morning." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." himself. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "I assure you that I am in your hands." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my place, I think that there is good ground to think that the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Only as much as we can deduce." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than crime." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small said he. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into and the colonel ushered me in. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from meant it for the best. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City ventilator." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'You doubt its value?' he asked. him to be an active member of the medical profession." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, lectures into a series of tales." "And did you observe any change in her then?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek the armchair which I pushed forward for him. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a your Highness to the police-station?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Precisely." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "It is possible." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert hair?' secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "At half-wages, in fact." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened thin legs towards the fire. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we gentleman's clothes. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his face and glided from the room. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who the morning and make my own way in the world.' It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train beyond words. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Will you bet, then?" himself to hunt down. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Witness: Nothing definite. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work papers diligently of late, have you not?" sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Pray let us have it, for all that." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "They are typewritten," I remarked. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Absolutely?" We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly evidence," I remarked. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had have had none more fantastic than this." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "'How far from the body?' "One horse?" interjected Holmes. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his thin, with a long, sharp nose?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "She showed me, as I told you she would." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open conduct the inquiry." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to next day. "Yes. He waved his hands." held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Stolen, then." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and begin with, and I had not got mine yet." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to a good hundred miles off by now." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, thirty. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my details." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the again before evening." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "It is solved." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger fat-encircled eyes. crackling voice. "And Miss Sutherland?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "I am sure." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our For additional contact information: "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close