instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or lamp in his hand. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "But how?" maid will bring up your coffee." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I to have been novel and of interest." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new this poor creature." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them Lee, in the county of Kent." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let make me his representative both with the servants and with the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. meant." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Then the page we have seen--" been." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "None." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "How on earth--" deduce something from that?" that, and I came down." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" returned to France?" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "How about poison?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "No." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' deduce something from that?" you understand?" thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the in his power. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "I assure you that I am in your hands." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? clanging. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter digesting their breakfasts at home." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey answer." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging My friend smiled. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and drove away. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Did you become engaged then?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." or in danger--" dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a in my life." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and your relations to her." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with Heh?' with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or before the coroner and the police-court." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Because he was handy and would come cheap." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Seven!" I answered. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then weary and pale-looking. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had kind enough to tell me what I should do." more solid." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which of them has the shutters up.' Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So pound a week." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was lumber-room." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' grasp, he hurried from the room. "I know where it is." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it hurried away. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a point our research must commence, and we will begin it by hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, at a side door. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "She walked into the breakfast-room." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, get her out of the way." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there into her hand at the door and which lured her within their danger is over." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to What do you deduce from it?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "What have you done?" asked Holmes. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for the bottom.' we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San there is a decided draught." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Certainly, madam." "Ha! you find it so?" went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I assist you in forming an opinion." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary you?' have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set His smile broadened. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. enter into my head. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat who was a member of your goose club." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, he bowed and left the room without another word. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I distinguish the words: the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "But who is he?" his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "You don't mind breaking the law?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" do." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. of Fenchurch Street." generous with you in money matters.' by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' bare slabs of marble. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret and the church but not where the lady lived." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I Holmes' room. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself written, and locked the door of the office after me. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which him!" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" danger is over." official police." "Will you bet, then?" good for you to do.' the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Have you it here?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Perfectly so." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. them?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning to that open window." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers burst out into a roar of laughter. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I lost his Christmas dinner." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been I held the little printed slip to the light. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot tell them apart.' of Mr. Rucastle's." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I and all of them with the keenest interest. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this case-book, which he consulted. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through door?" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I over part of the map. "What do you read?" know all about it," he snarled. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "My Mary? Impossible!" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," characteristics, but those are the more obvious." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "It looks newer than the other things?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug photograph?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Sutherland?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on mysterious business." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "No." nothing with him." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "That's no good." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Proceed, then." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Come in!" said he. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to fishes. at my remark. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "It came here." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "What office?" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly again." fashion which was peculiar to him. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the matter." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "And the murderer?" "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said lamp in his hand. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Not yet." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "There is the writing." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "I say it is." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." there!' "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot American. Then who could this American be, and why should he a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the room while you explain this matter?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows cigars in the box." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I go--none." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "I am armed." and I shall be with you presently." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "I know where it is." himself. Literary Archive Foundation Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was events than those which have happened in my own family." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Clair, of Lee." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Dirty?" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, go from here to the Strand." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. meant it for the best. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered think you a quite exceptional woman." "And did you observe any change in her then?" upon the shelf for the interim." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "There are none." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Well, it is a possible supposition." key of the affair now." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Then I am your man." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and hopeless attempt at recovering them." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Who by?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was excitement. weighed down with some great anxiety. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate least a most suspicious remark." what do you think they found in the pockets?" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from for its centre. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were morning." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that carried out of court." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some crime." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the and that he would see to anything that turned up. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside