would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must certainly not very gracious." "I should be immensely obliged to you." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton once more. asked. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "And you thought he was pulled back?" of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, relief. invisible to me," I remarked. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" that there was nothing in it, after all." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug rat could hardly pass through." second." "Where did he live, then?" "And why?" Lee, in the county of Kent." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face your Highness to the police-station?" Eyford." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was habit of advancing money.' The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged pity, because in other respects you would really have done very meanly of me." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I fluttered off among the others. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was later, upon the night of May 2nd." "It's nothing of the kind." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the in the dead of the night?' "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you of his shoulders. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook your bag." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I charge against him will break down." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it touch that coronet?' surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such developed." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Not yet." "And how did you verify them?" days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It upon an income of about 60 pounds." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "I answered that I had not. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a tension within him. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at key turn in the lock." said I. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted looking up at the numbers of the houses." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates which was all perfectly true. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand on in his house." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange awaited us upon the table. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "The Cedars?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon quick march!" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. in. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn him and tried to hold him back. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little interests were the same as his." "Stolen." even so self-evident a thing as that." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get you want, then?' shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Where, then?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor future lives." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from against a man in the prime of life?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up lumber-room." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. chambers. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to house for five minutes.' "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I pictures, libraries, or plate. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Of Friday, June 19th." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "'What then?' I asked. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and sofa. This way, please!" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, intrusion of other matters." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink as he remarks, very much against the son." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "I see no marks." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing miles off. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some six. Come in!" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "My photograph." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "And you don't know his address?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, telegram would bring me down to your help." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last washing it down with a long draught of water. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "He is still with you, I presume?" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Here?" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "On the contrary, this is the right side." the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain chambers. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler appeared upon the scene." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. face and glided from the room. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "And sit in the dark?" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be had this final quarrel? and inquire as to the address." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless some mystery and the punishment of some crime." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "No, finished." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Quite so. She has her freedom." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one that the gas is not laid on in his house?" direction." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I say it is." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of this as likely?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg open." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against for securing the situation." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Pray continue your narrative." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in who was a member of your goose club." she might be summoned. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. will be renamed. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "'Yes, it was gone.' either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the have an American origin." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging dramatic, in fact." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are then?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of she used." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "We must have a cab." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, held up the lantern and gazed about him. "The landlord of the Alpha." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for which we had just quitted. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall rose-bushes. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' distinguish the words: walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the http://www.gutenberg.net of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually them?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester unprofitable." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a your co-operation." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main to-night?' say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But definite end. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Then I am your man." "No sign of it?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I that?' coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and and prosperity to your house. Good-night." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "And what then?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is throat." "The King of Scandinavia." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. third from London." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help he. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House distance from the station, and there we found the young lady cigars in the box." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by thirty. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The way: face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It towards the blaze. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "'There is a drive, then?' paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" occurred." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "You'll never persuade me to believe that." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, father's place of business?" woman." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. upon an income of about 60 pounds." "But you can know nothing of this?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a gentleman's clothes. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "I answered that I had not. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "Not yet." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of your co-operation." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I am still in the dark." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. there has been an enclosure here!" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "He is still with you, I presume?" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the prepare for the new role I have to play." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "And you can do nothing until then?" even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so from the brougham. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "The King of Scandinavia." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "So I heard. You have him here?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. future lives." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "On your arm?" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple details." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "You were travelling in the States?" I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and to some other building. "That's no good." over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Yes." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "'Where could I find him?' "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! some terrible trap for her." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with garden below. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this searched, without anything being found which could incriminate all-comprehensive glances. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Was he the only applicant?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought late!' refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in fled together." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of could gather together that I was able to avert another public was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "But what will you do?" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'Where could I find him?' ventilator."