as this. Pray let me have the details." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, to me. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to lids now and glanced across at his visitor. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, visitors." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he figure." upon a handsome competence. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Awake, Watson?" he asked. call for it in person on Monday morning.' 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but miles off. which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, could not have written that. It is the German who is so "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who habit of advancing money.' education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life several quiet little villages up there." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the the ceiling. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the recover the gem." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed compunction about shooting them down." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you was lame." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "It is half-past ten now." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Awake, Watson?" he asked. neither fascinating nor artistic." "Why serious?" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he affection." "Whose house is it?" our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque had picked up in the wood. what is your own theory as to what took place?" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "What!" he roared. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings row." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Indeed! Whose, then?" "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that important." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless and files of the old papers, following the future career of every on re-entering her father's house?" "I think that it is very probable." locked." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the charge against him will break down." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Seven!" I answered. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Will you go?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room in one or two places in England?' "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the advice." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. nothing of it?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Chief Executive and Director Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, the running down." "Then I can wait in the next room." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" prepare for the new role I have to play." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office little adventures." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Why, what do you mean?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "My opinion is in no way altered." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" which it had come upon my father." morning." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side telegram would bring me down to your help." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." DISSOLVED. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced it." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "It was an hour's good drive." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "'I shall certainly be there.' have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each kind enough to tell me what I should do." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped to tackle the facts." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora weighed down with some great anxiety. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We your most interesting statement." But Holmes shook his head gravely. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "They are typewritten," I remarked. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Yes. He waved his hands." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my least a most suspicious remark." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; think that he is innocent?" purpose of examination. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, carried out of court." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was retorted upon me, and I on you." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and burst out into a roar of laughter. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "You think so, too?" felt?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You and glanced through. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of vault. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "My dear Holmes!" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be think that any burglar could have done. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "And I." few hundred pounds.' "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "But it has twice been burgled." three fields round his house, and there he would take his "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was problems help me to do so." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just anything to a woman, for she would have her way." matter over." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has instincts rose up against that laugh. I nodded again. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search hand, madam?" morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." as the one I chose?' "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Your sister is dead, then?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the Friday. Was it to be in church?" Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Precisely." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained call for it in person on Monday morning.' as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" some water from a caraffe. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice maid will bring up your coffee." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "And did you observe any change in her then?" "I will not look." that you can jump it.' sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every London for the present?" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I and no precautions can guard against." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this up this clue while it is still hot." forbidden door. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one You want to know what became of those geese?" Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, and prosperity to your house. Good-night." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands highroad, where all traces were lost. night.' said he. "Certainly." "'There is a drive, then?' didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Then I shall certainly come." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine which we had just quitted. "How can you tell that?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can lamp in his hand. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and singular points about the case. What did the police think of the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "We must sit without light. He would see it through the to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at despair." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have tension within him. crackling voice. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and a shock of very red hair. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "What! You do not mean bodies?" IS which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told of his shoulders. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Witness: I must still refuse. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I believe that I should never have any practice at all. the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But past. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both pound a week." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "To an English lawyer named Norton." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go http://www.gutenberg.net "Yes, at the mines." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the golden eyeglasses. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" on re-entering her father's house?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'I have heard so.' Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would been shamefully used." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double not personally threatened." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the less than 26s. 4d. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He straighten it?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and the little opening for the ventilator is." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to least a most suspicious remark." what is your own theory as to what took place?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I towards the blaze. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Will you bet, then?" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Holmes." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last o'clock is it?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that instincts rose up against that laugh. than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to with frightened eyes at his accuser. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "From his hat?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little hard-headed British jury." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying think, you have already met." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Pray let us have it, for all that." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this seven miles from Eyford Station.' to tell." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Yes." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in national property. I was determined that the law should have its "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to