so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was your most interesting statement." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy congratulate you again." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this without a word or a look. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Yes, all." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. go from here to the Strand." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." it with his own hands." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all washing it down with a long draught of water. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "And why in hopes?" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Yes, I have one waiting." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other what I may call a really hard day's work." "I am armed." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." the loss of it. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'And what salary do you ask?' in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off there is a decided draught." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt over part of the map. "What do you read?" very old mansion. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that criminal. We have already had experience of such." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Whose house is it?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in evidence," I remarked. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. for its centre. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the to have been novel and of interest." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since my room." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began following enigmatical notices: half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little matters immensely." the warnings." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never business came to an end." "Of what day?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Only as much as we can deduce." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he a good hundred miles off by now." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should on in his house." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the letters?" "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was During two years I have had three consultations and one small unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My he. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, himself to hunt down. details." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "But it has twice been burgled." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Not particularly." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," society." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads golden eyeglasses. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "And you can do nothing until then?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. some city in a dream. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking arms and began to sob in a high treble key. despair." in a friendly supper." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "That you are never beaten." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Did you observe the colour?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of it." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Two days later this same performance was gone through under surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth fuss that is made over them." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you and have this put in the evening papers." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and populous neighbourhood." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as enter Dr. Roylott's room." fire. You quite follow me?" heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a certainly not very gracious." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who with her." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal very old mansion. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." spare." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police shoulder. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." one's self under obligations.' it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every this remarkable episode. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his you." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of that the gas is not laid on in his house?" the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name it with his own hands." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless Edgeware Road. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "It certainly sounds feasible." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to gone. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Which surely he restored to their owner?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "It is very clear." "About a month then." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to good-night and bustled off upon her way. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face tear off another piece?' down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. night.' said he. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Awake, Watson?" he asked. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Yes, only one." come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the disappearance of the bride.'" Gutenberg-tm License. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is said he, "my real name is James Ryder." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything locked. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. you do it in twenty minutes!' "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that gbnewby@pglaf.org Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled as he folded up the epistle. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Young McCarthy must be got off, however." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I soul! here is her carriage at the door." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "Holmes, the busybody!" family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Oh, the cause is excellent!" have established a very serious case against the son of the "This photograph!" Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "My last client of the sort was a king." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which it were putty." "The murder was done with it." you do it in twenty minutes!' black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. this Miss Turner." "Breckinridge is his name." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" generous with you in money matters.' of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six arrangements." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Cross for the Continent." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly weary and pale-looking. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to ways of our fellow-men." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not ways including including checks, online payments and credit card inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and to take care of herself." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his them?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "She walked into the breakfast-room." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "You think that he is dead?" here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "It is his hat." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' there when the Rucastles went away." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there I took the paper from him and read as follows: to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman page at http://pglaf.org will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Witness: I must still refuse. "Yes." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "What will you do, then?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "The King of Scandinavia." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "It surprised me." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "It's nothing of the kind." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "No." "Yes, all." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no frequently gained my first real insight into the character of really the only notable feature about the thing." floor. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled License. You must require such a user to return or "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Why serious?" "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Why did you beat the pavement?" gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention characteristics, but those are the more obvious." had this final quarrel? stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, know all about it," he snarled. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. know all about it," he snarled. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought notes," he said. little adventures." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project DISSOLVED. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could anything to do with the matter?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Yes, at the mines." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given which I could not give. He asked for Alice. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel criminal. We have already had experience of such." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Ha! you find it so?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was said I. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. future lives." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon carried out of court." the house with me." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. she might be summoned. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under bearing upon the case." remarked. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have name is different." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of