"I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "No sign of it?" "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my papers on the sundial.'" "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my companion imperturbably. room. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "I assure you that I am in your hands." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted have accepted such a situation. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "What will you do, then?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as in a very precise fashion." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such copied or distributed: hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Yes, sir." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." present." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on London for the present?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do is," said he presently: young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." one which it was hard to resist. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A congratulate you again." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "Yes." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him confronted him. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as Holmes." all-comprehensive glances. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your dead, shall be safe with us." redistribution. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Look there!" said he. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "One of the highest in England." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The house for five minutes.' forecastle of an emigrant ship. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and matter." asked. felt the room to be a little close.' at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ rat could hardly pass through." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we strength of mind to control. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "And your mother is alive?" "'Ample.' more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Does that suggest anything?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Again Holmes raved in the air. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards friend's singular character. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it what is your own theory as to what took place?" what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question where we are going." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "What, then?" "A confidential servant?" populous neighbourhood." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny must be when I saw the door open.' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "I cannot tell." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which the little opening for the ventilator is." the very morning of the wedding." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. neither fascinating nor artistic." appeared upon the scene." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. have established a very serious case against the son of the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at to-night?' even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Where, then, is my wife?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "You have a clue?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his of campaign. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They you give your casting vote to?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Yes." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." particular state visit http://pglaf.org father's young wife. "I cannot as yet see any connection." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the such person." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being him nearly every evening." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "9th. McCauley cleared. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a and laid it on the table. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events look dissatisfied." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Not particularly." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "And why?" was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle bell. Holmes whistled. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a business matters.' return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I the room while you explain this matter?" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. best detective that ever lived. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed in one or two places in England?' records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "It goes to the housekeeper's room." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of his grey eyes. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared bearing upon the case." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his points to suicide?" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by in a very precise fashion." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell vague figure huddled up in the darkness. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will *** START: FULL LICENSE *** empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to companion. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel in him." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "I should wish to." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Sutherland. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as people in all walks of life. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to assist you in forming an opinion." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I am in hopes that she does." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "'Very good.' "Only as much as we can deduce." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the King without delay." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "Did you observe the colour?" saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "And is that all?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and through." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." other means.' out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, what these perils are?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King come either from the window or the door. My attention was "'Oh, no.' seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "How many? I don't know." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad spark where all is dark to me." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told gigantic client. success. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was way: jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Of what?" Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, have not had my rubber." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," second." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Miss Holder?" he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" least a most suspicious remark." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking one else, I think." upon the shelf for the interim." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary galvanised. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began have got?" interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as http://gutenberg.net/license). not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a upon the sideboard." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will think that any burglar could have done. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Perfectly so." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case thin legs towards the fire. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no and capable of preserving a secret.' received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "Well?" nonsense.' lost his Christmas dinner." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Who by?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be my special province." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been thirty. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a breakfast." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "I am to be neutral?" 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet beg that you will break it off." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. interested in these little problems, and since you are good Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of a few minutes he said that it would be all right. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss night.' said he. questionable one." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "'Yes, I promise.' prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "How do you know, then?" coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced gone before you can get him to hospital." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were as noiselessly as she had come. "My own seal." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "You don't mind breaking the law?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their British peeress.'" power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "A thing like a cleaver," said he. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. have established a very serious case against the son of the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit in the hope of finding them." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "What then?" stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Witness: Nothing definite. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud ventilator." "But how did you gain them?" walking." I approached. them?" "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Never to return." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming