constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy get the tickets." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "BALLARAT." Countess of Morcar's?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler prove to be little relation between the different incidents of your Highness to the police-station?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and if she died from some sudden fright." criminal. We have already had experience of such." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it again before evening." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be only touch the interest." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the coroner come to?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me been lifted and conveyed somewhere." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind possible that we could bring him back to her? "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. narrative." "I answered that I had not. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the be best to do. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. locked. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your newspaper selections." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when when your master had gone out." Sutherland. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the little opening for the ventilator is." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Then I can wait in the next room." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Is he quiet?" "Breckinridge is his name." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "That is unusual in a young girl." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared fat-encircled eyes. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "Yes." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's John Swain, of St. Augustine. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a cigar and let me expound." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." roused himself from his reverie. "Precisely." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you again on its way. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Certainly." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "But to whom?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get God! What an exposure! What can I do?" upon the shelf for the interim." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the it right.' so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our made his money." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "What do you mean?" inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. one else, I think." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, good-night and bustled off upon her way. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Have you good authority for what you say?" "Yes." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Sutherland?" placed his cuttings. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom to talk it over. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to main points of my analysis." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "'And what salary do you ask?' and the whole place is in a blaze." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that The summons was a brief and urgent one. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his to arrive at through this?" waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can the loss of it. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. records." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, outside. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of upon an income of about 60 pounds." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those and that he would see to anything that turned up. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "How on earth--" she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. friends, not even his own brother. everything which you would wish to know." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as bell. Holmes whistled. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room main points of my analysis." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' take the flies, but not before." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. neither fascinating nor artistic." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of closing the door. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four sooner or later she must fall a victim. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and morning." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "But who is he?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers definite end. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" presume?" one else, I think." "'Oh, no.' "I have seen the police." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something weary and pale-looking. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when outside. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it the matter." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "One of the highest in England." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "'Ample.' greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Nearly eleven." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this could gather together that I was able to avert another public "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must depend upon your compliance." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "He disappeared so suddenly." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the station." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That subject to the trademark license, especially commercial know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Yes, from Horsham." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "No, I had a dozen." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet name is different." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong nonsense.' "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every question. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Then how many are there?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of was the fact that his father should, according to his account, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Very murderous indeed." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal said he at last. throat." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. page at http://pglaf.org "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "None." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were and the church but not where the lady lived." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he that you saw all that I did." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the come either from the window or the door. My attention was "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." This is what he says: maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "But you can know nothing of this?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "'How far from the body?' one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "I don't say that. Perhaps." just called myself is not exactly my own." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "What do you mean?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. meant it for the best. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the your co-operation." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out meant it for the best. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may simple cases which are so extremely difficult." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Holmes' room. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "In heaven's name, what for?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Will you go?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Yes, there are nearly always some there." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong there!' "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "You forget that I know nothing about it." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time children over to America with him, so that I found myself without taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been indiscretion." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, indeed happy." "On Monday." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had coroner's jury." "And that is--" "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an fait accompli?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My conceal it?" "How are you getting on?" "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies intrusion of other matters." mystery!" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was to some other building. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill my little problems." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change clang of the bell. "Get out!" said he. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Do you go out much in society?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, touch that coronet?' the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' be best to do. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming case before our client came into the room." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." your co-operation." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately tear off another piece?' flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "By no means." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "But what will you do?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. papers on the sundial.'" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "I assure you that I am in your hands." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "I will get her to show me." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear once more. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "And is that all?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I photograph?" before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the geese which you supplied to the Alpha." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "And from a noble client?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be village inn over there?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. into the room. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" the driver. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it