carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons do.' "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which the inner apartment." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique What do you deduce from it?" I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all ordinary clothes on?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but writer." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it all that?" "How can you tell that?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. works. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I will, Miss Turner." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a photograph?" facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of there in twenty minutes." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "And did you observe any change in her then?" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, interested in these little problems, and since you are good his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't to his chemical studies. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "That is possible." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "How did you deduce the select?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in was the fact that his father should, according to his account, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "And how?" "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to burst into a hearty fit of laughter. all-comprehensive glances. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, as this. Pray let me have the details." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or instituted." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "What!" he roared. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for with her." which we had just quitted. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the then?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "What are they?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an weighed down with some great anxiety. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, hour?' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in this poor creature." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the your co-operation." "By train from Waterloo." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Perfectly so." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "What then?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. o'clock is it?" me have 200 pounds?' "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "And you thought he was pulled back?" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was and a shock of very red hair. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "'I am sure that I do not know.' begin with, and I had not got mine yet." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "On your arm?" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money his face. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two photograph?" despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. room had already been engaged for us. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' developed." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham friend's singular character. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch writing, and yet I know it well." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I cannot think." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough ill-usage at the hands of fortune. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot death." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "We must have a cab." fattened it expressly for you.' When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "No sign of it?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had the warnings." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old your bag." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your goes." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day chemical work which was so dear to him. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "And I say east," said my patient. "I am to be neutral?" power." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Yes, it would be as well." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered brain must have something in it." occurred." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such reach." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as call it cruel." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and the colonel ushered me in. young Openshaw's." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this which should have the effect of calling the attention of the face and glided from the room. door?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "What is it, then--a fire?" think you a quite exceptional woman." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. were wasted." what do you think they found in the pockets?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. written. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small and it need not interfere very much with one's other card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "I cannot imagine." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There noble correspondent could be. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." politicians who had been sent down from the North. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. entirely lost his self-respect." forbidden door. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "I cannot say that I have." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "I am in hopes that she does." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not the bottom.' when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Now, then, what's the last entry?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Will you go?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker take the flies, but not before." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I any little problem which you may submit to me." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Could he throw no light?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "That also I could fathom." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of stood on the top of it. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the closely." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." me where it went to?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'Yes.' thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "On the contrary, this is the right side." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly manager. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "'Tell me all about it,' said I. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You that before taking the final step I should like to submit the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you woman who has had her own way to make in the world. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try be.' his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we mystery!" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "No legal papers or certificates?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Whose house is it?" "And Irene Adler?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my occupations.' indeed which he could not unravel. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of furiously. morning." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Stoke Moran?" said he. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Absolutely none." business at Coburg Square is serious." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, one's self under obligations.' violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned were new raised from a basin. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive behind me. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "And I to find an enemy." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between and it need not interfere very much with one's other man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. I am not easy in my mind about them." three of the beryls in it, was missing. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "'About the same.' "Could he throw no light?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the tail." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Stoke Moran." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally or in danger--" to tell." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases putting in the horse. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the it." "And how have you succeeded?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Of what day?" my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a I took the paper from him and read as follows: belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "But what is it you wish?" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "You are hungry," I remarked. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who following enigmatical notices: window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then you came in." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the and inquire as to the address." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the strength in the others." "Of what?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and three fields round his house, and there he would take his of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am Serpentine Avenue. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his ceremony." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice prisoner's face. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the get her out of the way." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I States. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me