warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Eh? What was that?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "'Most admirably.' this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it furiously. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both appointment with me for six o'clock?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change breakfast." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the window, rose as we entered. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner have had none more fantastic than this." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced been lifted and conveyed somewhere." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "No, thank goodness, she did not." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us writer." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "No, I think that I'll take it." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in undoubtedly my uncle's." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he giving me time to thank him. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he felt the room to be a little close.' on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. hands. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in of Fenchurch Street." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco chambers. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do business." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" fat-encircled eyes. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "His face fell immediately. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is in the port of London." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "I have a cab outside." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible legal crime." "That also I could fathom." the coronet at all injured?" locked." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the quite distinctive." rooms." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I this remarkable episode. "Not I." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes been deceived." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire hour?' without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Always." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "No bad?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to them present such singular features as the strange train of The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled second." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission details." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided spark where all is dark to me." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds so far?" woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "But how did you gain them?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Certainly." forbidden door. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "'Very good.' "And on what day did he meet his death?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may had died away into the silence from which it rose. "How often?" to Leatherhead. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It hair?' His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "I cannot imagine." papers." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." in a very precise fashion." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance be.' abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, shoulder. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "From his hat?" distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of fuss that is made over them." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Not I." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that entirely devoid of interest." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. observed. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly their singular warning or token before them when starting upon have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Was your sister dressed?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "But she could not love him." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "I think it very unlikely." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which swore that no one else had been in the front room during the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if allusion to a rat. come either from the window or the door. My attention was of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in have got?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "And is that all?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action go from here to the Strand." anything to do with the matter?" baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a opened a pocket-book and took out a note. with the outside air!" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Count Von Kramm." me where it went to?" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Come in!" said Holmes. you." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which constraint." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without I shall communicate with you." to a more successful conclusion." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." jewels which you have stolen?' grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a gone before you can get him to hospital." crime. your Highness to the police-station?" across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Entirely." directly by questioning you." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and of the one which your family is now devouring." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to you." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I past. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "I do." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from Munro.' charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack points in connection with it which never have been, and probably jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: the coronet in his hand?" made his money." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such that the gas is not laid on in his house?" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "But what harm can there be in that?" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up companion. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a quick march!" "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "But you were on a friendly footing?" information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the I nodded to show that I had heard. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "And how did you verify them?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with burst out into a roar of laughter. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I will get her to show me." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Oh, yes, easily." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, own family. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Well?" We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. unkempt, staring out at me. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Your sister is dead, then?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "And you can do nothing until then?" "I am in hopes that she does." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Did you observe the colour?" "Which are?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained to some other building. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Yes, the wine-cellar." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning the armchair which I pushed forward for him. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, waste of energy." had picked up in the wood. and capable of preserving a secret.' "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can silent! Oh, he will be silent!' precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not tied." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from window when the police appeared." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the salesman. "To an end?" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again fasten all the windows?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the towards the blaze. fact, we may call it conclusive." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have meant it for the best. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that there." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "'Most admirably.' years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "What office?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of to-night?" I asked. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few tell him that I know him to be innocent." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the bottom.' "Game for a morning drive?" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the you for a few hours?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr.