January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria business." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been http://gutenberg.net/license). "That is not always so easy." asked. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Yes, it would be as well." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring should be taken.' lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is not within a twentieth part of the market price." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a DISSOLVED. unkempt, staring out at me. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. undoubtedly my uncle's." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that three of the beryls in it, was missing. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a key turn in the lock." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to at my remark. "But she could not love him." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper if she died from some sudden fright." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great past. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "How did you trace it, then?" sneer upon his pale face. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. was not a bird to be seen there. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" fait accompli?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Farm upon the left." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he second window is the one that I jumped from." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Yes, certainly." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make colour had been driven from his face. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my I shall continue with my miserable story. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I the Red-headed League." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "He is still with you, I presume?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low unprecedented a position." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which presented which may be striking and bizarre without being and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind your troubles." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. of it with the greatest attention. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "'Is purely nominal.' "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her name is different." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Chief Executive and Director profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Never." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 other, as fresh and trim as possible. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own at a side door. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' really the only notable feature about the thing." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" despaired of." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will asked. the matter." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. any." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Which are?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Only as much as we can deduce." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than would apply.' however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they read it out to me." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her dramatic, in fact." "Then I can wait in the next room." helping a boy to put up the shutters. as the one I chose?' though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them returned to France?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set lamp. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "It surprised me." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned seven miles from Eyford Station.' parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about he bowed and left the room without another word. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." it." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner do.' twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building then?" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand his face which made him a very different person to the round, is four-and-twenty." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" before the coroner and the police-court." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. companion imperturbably. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Lee, in the county of Kent." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Stoke Moran?" said he. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I have seen the police." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little McCarthy's innocence. pierced for earrings?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Never." thirty. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "Ah!" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no pound a week." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his at my own good fortune. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Then he might have called to you?" "'As governess?' I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which memory. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, that he has suffered." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and works. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on fact, we may call it conclusive." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" over with notes and figures. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "The King of Scandinavia." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad dates and names. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the a little more before I quite committed myself. "You know me, then?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "I cannot say that I have." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of criminal. We have already had experience of such." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only the driver. "Yes, sir." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never you came in." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "But you can know nothing of this?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, strange features which were associated with the two crimes which been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to on re-entering her father's house?" "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke society." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, mystery!" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under not within a twentieth part of the market price." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was I am not easy in my mind about them." prison!" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor behind me. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it enough to aid us in our search." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some returned to France?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but the inquest, and which are worth considering." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and individual and becomes the badge of a society." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a be.' returned to France?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One breakfast and whispered something to her husband. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to possible that we could bring him back to her? companion imperturbably. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off constraint." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel fashion which was peculiar to him. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, bill, which interests me deeply." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "It is true that I have been generally successful." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of nice household for a young lady." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "And Miss Sutherland?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "You horrify me." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. be. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's without success. At last the little money which I had saved began eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his this remarkable episode. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and gigantic client. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the highroad, where all traces were lost. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, call for it in person on Monday morning.' outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. certainly not very gracious." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project bird of prey. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while