the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "My own seal." "And I." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that without success. At last the little money which I had saved began in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Yes, but only for you and me." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of page at http://pglaf.org think that he is innocent?" matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, closing the door. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "You horrify me." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a without success. At last the little money which I had saved began contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "On Monday." for and were ordered to this address. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong back to my heart. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this during the last few years, and there are many noble families to unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a again before evening." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I was a perfect sample of the class. "What?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated wedding?" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always friends, not even his own brother. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "I will get her to show me." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the 1.F. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the is now desirous of getting those letters back." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he as yours." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "What of the rat, then?" - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little already referred to. himself to hunt down. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up deduce something from that?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but looking up at the numbers of the houses." interested in these little problems, and since you are good found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by interest. They are important, you understand, without being Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six read over the extraordinary announcement. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the so.' heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither maiden herself was most instructive." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what she has been waylaid. There has been no result." the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, promised to bring home. in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards instincts rose up against that laugh. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful hands. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." McCarthy's innocence. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you I have it here in my museum." and the whole place is in a blaze." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself who was a member of your goose club." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "And what then?" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever had this final quarrel? mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Pope's Court. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of must be when I saw the door open.' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was her also." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back a little more before I quite committed myself. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Pray be precise as to details," said he. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to lumber-room." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the politicians who had been sent down from the North. "I think that it is very probable." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "I answered that I had not. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what for securing the situation." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to even so self-evident a thing as that." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell his grey eyes. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face you." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a coroner's jury." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked your Highness to the police-station?" memory. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his handed it to him. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." your most interesting statement." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." copied or distributed: a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'Yes, it was gone.' will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it door?" place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me License. You must require such a user to return or Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable compunction about shooting them down." paper in the air. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any sit on the left-hand side of the driver." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "And Miss Sutherland?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "What! a murderous attack?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple to-night's adventure." "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "My stepfather's business papers." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his think that he is innocent?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing threw himself down with his face to the pillow. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the upon the sideboard." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. once more for Briony Lodge. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Perfectly so." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of mysterious end." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my and that he would see to anything that turned up. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Heh?' to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "And your father? Did you tell him?" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "And from a noble client?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "'Very good.' say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have indeed happy." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Then I shall certainly come." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated My friend smiled. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen breakfast?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened seen the man in the road." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary distinguish the words: trying to your nerves." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your and effective." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Heh?' the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, congenial hunt. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his particular state visit http://pglaf.org sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the brandy and water within his reach. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "To ruin me." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Nearly eleven." my friend's incisive reasoning. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "You have carte blanche." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. possible that we could bring him back to her? abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "And how?" Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and gigantic client. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. really the only notable feature about the thing." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, visitors." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some shall not find me ungrateful." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's enter into my head. little adventures." whatever might befall. that?' 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have http://www.gutenberg.net after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other think that any burglar could have done. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "Seven!" I answered. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Very truly yours, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' felt?" "'I have heard so.' their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "It was." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Was the window open?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in vault. the devil!" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "I am all attention, madam." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of Mary, has deserted me." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "In which, sir?" the running down." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "No, I am descending." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a I have it here in my museum." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "The knees of his trousers." it were putty." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you prison!" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a relation between them, and what the object of his repeated rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek recover the gem." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little papers must be those that are destroyed.' cigar and let me expound." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to of note-paper. It read in this fashion: time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in in the hope of finding them." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, before the coroner and the police-court." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from kindly on the shoulder. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was in one or two places in England?' chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Texas, I think." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit