fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "What then?" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Pray do so." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather them?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My opened the door, and slipped through. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may skylight. relief. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Well." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with the window, rose as we entered. "'Yes, sir.' that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Precisely." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "None." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "No." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "None. Neville wrote those words." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that chill to my heart. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without tail." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I house for five minutes.' unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "I am about to be married." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not and a shock of very red hair. what is your own theory as to what took place?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring pierced for earrings?" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we was once confined in the cab my mission was practically without a word or a look. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly present strange and interesting features that it is no easy carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' like that before?" to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his which our visitor detailed to us. which we had just quitted. conclusions. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in to his chemical studies. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "I have solved it." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." how narrow had been my escape. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "'Where to?' years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Entirely." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "It is true that I have been generally successful." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" depend upon my doing so.' freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with It was close upon four before the door opened, and a he. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Yes, only one." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "The best possible." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my to arrive at through this?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon grasp, he hurried from the room. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Witness: Nothing definite. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, could not have written that. It is the German who is so feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" peculiar to him. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Nothing." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "'Where to?' Sutherland?" imbecility!" he cried. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside you." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of again." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, been able to understand it, in a very few words. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Eyford at 11:15.' what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which my little problems." your own bird, so if you wish--" "It was." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Pray do so." visitors." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission gone. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Never." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "A greater distance to travel." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "How did you trace it, then?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the redistribution. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was asked with his eyes open. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Who was the criminal, then?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." minor matters until to-morrow." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Dr. Becher's." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Then I shall certainly come." "My own seal." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Yes, the wine-cellar." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and into the bag, and made for the door. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year signal between you and your father? favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might feature." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Yes, from Horsham." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That shall not find me ungrateful." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "'And the work?' journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "And why?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "Yes, the wine-cellar." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "If so, much may have happened between." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her him!" casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Bought." hurried away. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he an introduction to him?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a acted in my house last night?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been investigation." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had interests were the same as his." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Imitated." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Nothing." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and undoubtedly my uncle's." Holmes." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in legal crime." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Where, indeed?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but correct than the official force." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project Holmes' room. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I charge against him will break down." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' this as likely?" I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to this as likely?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "That was it, sir." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. flock.' "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce open." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Yes." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital asked with his eyes open. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "It is possible." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method both be extremely obliged.' We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless washing it down with a long draught of water. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always companion imperturbably. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "What have you to say now?" the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are key of the affair now." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "I think it very unlikely." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Has he come with you to-night?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low been." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the coronet in his hand?" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Not particularly." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a footfalls from the street. the bed, and you in that chair." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." and all of them with the keenest interest. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. wedding?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the drove away. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether suddenly upon us." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Pray let us have it, for all that." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the know that the truth is known." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" nothing with him." My friend smiled. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not that there was nothing in it, after all." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic said he at last. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "No." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "What then?" little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the security.' fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "To ruin me." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.'