for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded have established a very serious case against the son of the particular state visit http://pglaf.org Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of receipt of the work. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an appeared upon the scene." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Because he was handy and would come cheap." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. as he folded up the epistle. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Witness: I must still refuse. strong and stiff." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that hour?' "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' would then never go into court at all." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "And on what day did he meet his death?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "No, I think that I'll take it." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "What! Had he lost his wife?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. narrative." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary crackling voice. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would helping a boy to put up the shutters. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' instituted." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "But his lameness?" "Imitated." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the shall use the carriage to-night." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent prison!" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "You are hungry," I remarked. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "But how did you gain them?" lips." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "But not more so than I to find you." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "'Very good.' "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project clanging. in. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." get the tickets." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Nothing?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Very much so." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. gives a meaning to it." "There is the writing." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." DAMAGE. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing and capable of preserving a secret.' to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Ah!" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, think you a quite exceptional woman." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are we went to search for him, face downward in a little reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose pity, because in other respects you would really have done very door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have to talk it over. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, go--none." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Who was the criminal, then?" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in three fields round his house, and there he would take his it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I have come for advice." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time and put his glass in his pocket. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of morning." fashion which was peculiar to him. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "'Which dealer's?' "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "How did that help you?" see me here to avoid scandal." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project held up the lantern and gazed about him. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources sound at heart." be there in time for your coming." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should the coroner come to?" morning." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Really! You surprise me." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the best of training." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the occurred." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "9th. McCauley cleared. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but you understand?" that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but you for a few hours?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry in his hands." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert of your young ladies.' obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in from the brougham. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one particular state visit http://pglaf.org "And Miss Sutherland?" depend upon your compliance." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire said he. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' intrusion of other matters." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third said Mr. Holder. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "It was a confession," I ejaculated. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" side. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Nearly eleven." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, footfalls from the street. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left bled considerably." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and call for protection in the marriage market, for the present justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his indiscretion." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the child." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a of campaign. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her 'please.'" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and skylight. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "I will do it." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "'I have heard so.' without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and swore that no one else had been in the front room during the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of would apply.' slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would she to prove their authenticity?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some which we had just quitted. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I have one." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect she used." like gravel from a pit.' words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, and put his glass in his pocket. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both man. must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "And you thought he was pulled back?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and have I gained?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "No, I had a dozen." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he weighed down with some great anxiety. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the so-precious time, but come!' the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to Pope's Court. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." said he at last. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Then I am your man." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler chance at all." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, go back?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "I do." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his it." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic emerged. people don't know." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Nothing." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Which are?" of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "That was it, sir." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "My opinion is in no way altered." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It asked with his eyes open. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon taking in every detail of the apartment. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "What! Had he lost his wife?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a soul! here is her carriage at the door." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "'I am sure if I had known--' "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle you in your example." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I shall be delighted." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up these bleak autumnal evenings." "Where to?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "I am all attention, madam." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and The King stared at him in amazement. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. there is a decided draught." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large what these perils are?" indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his me. You must get home instantly and act." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but sound at heart." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." morning." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "But what will you do?" for securing the situation." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On in the port of London." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution suspect him." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "I was mad--insane." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'I am sure if I had known--' "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." at home. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Ah, but I was recommended to you." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the from you?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." said he. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his the side-table." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "I cannot think." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he