and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but done what I asked you, Jones?" wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I asked. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so maiden herself was most instructive." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, was a lad." observed. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "It is true that I have been generally successful." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside gone. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and disturbance in my wife." himself in a perplexing position. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "And how have you succeeded?" always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds whole matter to your consideration." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project been able to understand it, in a very few words. amused." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Did you observe the colour?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Pool. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the lamp in his hand. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which fishes. constraint." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper his eyes and forehead. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Yes?" know that the truth is known." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. desk. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "So I am. Very much so." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to did not hear it also.' "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I towards the blaze. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & be.' neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your the matter." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the for its centre. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the window, rose as we entered. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you his fortune, and I went back to pa. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "'And the work?' even so self-evident a thing as that." "There are none." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "And Miss Sutherland?" with her." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a Serpentine Avenue. wanted for ourselves." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, again on its way. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the clanging. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. works. See paragraph 1.E below. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "But how?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Not yet." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number clang of the bell. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable had picked up in the wood. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': danger is over." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are them, and came down just as you departed. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Where is it, then?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just and all of them with the keenest interest. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your results." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Yes, sir." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my during the last few years, and there are many noble families to who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. of a light. "And it is--" and glanced through. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was cup of tea. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "I have come for advice." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Yes, at the mines." "Have you it here?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this You can understand that this register and diary may implicate such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little overpowering excitement and concern. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is front of me. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "But what is it you wish?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That present." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "And I say east," said my patient. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "'About the same.' "And how did he make his money?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out down in his armchair and closing his eyes. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It is so. I know all about McCarthy." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Arthur Conan Doyle annoyance, but no jest. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "So I heard. You have him here?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in through." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "And the cigar-holder?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming II. upon the sideboard." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as before the coroner and the police-court." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "What is it?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and future lives." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the breakfast." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly the side-table." and the colonel ushered me in. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "I guessed as much." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. Holmes' face clouded over. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon showing my impatience. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." one of them." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left was feeling which was the fattest.' '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were questionable one." habit of advancing money.' with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'I am sure if I had known--' upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to again, where I was soon asleep. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Where, then?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad soul! here is her carriage at the door." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free that you wished to speak to me?' attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known night.' said he. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. is a common subject for conversation. memory. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." off." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk main points of my analysis." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, in this way: clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "'Is 4 pounds a week.' time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own likely to be some crony of the landlady's." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "And sit in the dark?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for will he say when he returns?" fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said The events in question occurred in the early days of my as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, arrested. You then--" rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & the so-precious time, but come!' things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Murdered?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "He said too much." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the upon the white wrist. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of morning." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last a suggestive one." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in official police." "No bad?" key of the affair now." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "You have a clue?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "You forget that I know nothing about it." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I cannot imagine." case before our client came into the room." "What! Had he lost his wife?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Very. But will he see it?" I took the paper from him and read as follows: amused." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an laugh and put his lips to my ear. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "There are none." "Yes, from Horsham." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Precisely." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." a good hundred miles off by now." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who begun to whiten, even as mine has." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the or in danger--" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be correct than the official force." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "I don't believe it." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Breckinridge is his name." his fortune, and I went back to pa. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after gone before you can get him to hospital." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." rat could hardly pass through." should be taken.' the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "My last client of the sort was a king." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I once more. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Yes." "Who was the criminal, then?" encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so was feeling which was the fattest.' "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I never have." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose humiliation." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he get her out of the way." imbecility!" he cried. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with