"A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." village inn over there?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Count Von Kramm." Pope's Court. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "I cannot as yet see any connection." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without clanging. "'What then?' I asked. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "My photograph." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The there." presented more singular features than that which was associated few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can dear old homesteads?" I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would as noiselessly as she had come. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, to take care of herself." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I way in." "Always." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I shall be delighted." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since passage and a tap at the door. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are entirely lost his self-respect." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the leave you to your papers for a little." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you retorted upon me, and I on you." foresight and the moral retrogression?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Pray do so." individual and becomes the badge of a society." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I questioning and rather startled gaze. chill to my heart. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church remarked. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "I am about to be married." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a charge against him will break down." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "'What are you doing there?' he asked. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell ways including including checks, online payments and credit card leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but and wait." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "And how did you verify them?" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but the nursery. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, strength." I. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had are windows in it, of course?" Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the will be renamed. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. undoubtedly my uncle's." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the never came back." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is with frightened eyes at his accuser. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by his wife has ceased to love him." system of imprisonment?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew minor matters until to-morrow." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was daring than any effort of the imagination." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'Certainly not. But why?' colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked think you a quite exceptional woman." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this James Windibank. Voilà tout!" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Witness: Nothing definite. the loss of it. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "I promise," said Holmes. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "But you have hopes?" "By train from Waterloo." and a shock of very red hair. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear mysterious end." man. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, in his hands." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting our word." "Witness: It was. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "You horrify me!" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we absorbing." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit dramatic, in fact." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "The gentleman I describe." said Mr. Holder. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. recover the gem." "No sign of it?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, once more to my work. "How many? I don't know." with you?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to 1.E.9. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction events than those which have happened in my own family." feature." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face the window, rose as we entered. believe that I should never have any practice at all. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. could gather together that I was able to avert another public memory. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "An accident, I presume?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "I shall be delighted." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we than was visible to me." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a wanted for ourselves." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, know all about it," he snarled. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "What will you say?" leaning back in his chair. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Witness: Nothing definite. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. yet." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature bled considerably." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I hair?' "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, writer." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so were new raised from a basin. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "But she will refuse." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "You know me, then?" without a word or a look. like that before?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep questioning and rather startled gaze. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings British peeress.'" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Yes." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in fled together." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town recover the gem." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that to talk it over. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open been shamefully used." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to arrested. You then--" "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Count Von Kramm." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "I guessed as much." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, back alive. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took bare slabs of marble. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it already been minutely examined." questionable one." "I know where it is." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "No, I am descending." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." direction." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in fear." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would directors have had misgivings upon the subject." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I fish-monger and a tide-waiter." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "How did that help you?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "I promise," said Holmes. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "But the mystery?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another door?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased distance from the station, and there we found the young lady come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "But how?" because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have attention." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Pray do so." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "It surprised me." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. hair?' as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Why serious?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet remarked. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Have you good authority for what you say?" into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "I cannot tell." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, all-comprehensive glances. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has It was close upon four before the door opened, and a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." extraordinary contortions. "Ample." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin which was all perfectly true. pressing in one house as in another. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, written. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "What of the rat, then?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years night.' said he. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the fled together." "And how did you find out?" most interesting one." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the awaited us upon the table. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my Foundation sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. fear." train.' And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very appeal." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch have I gained?" orange pips. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "What is it, then--a fire?" of campaign. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "'I have heard so.' "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his lamp. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these American. Then who could this American be, and why should he quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first strength of mind to control. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the retorted upon me, and I on you." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Your French gold?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague that he has suffered." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body you want, then?' many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "I should wish to." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Perhaps I have." "In San Francisco, a year ago." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If