"So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I eavesdroppers?' his wife has ceased to love him." "Yes." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage will find little credit to be gained out of this case." occurred." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your charged with?" some city in a dream. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "An accident, I presume?" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in of the vacancies.' Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "That you are never beaten." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'Most admirably.' "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "It was a confession," I ejaculated. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "But of what society?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "'Very good.' full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be the station." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Yes, there are nearly always some there." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. him." "I would give my fortune to have them back." "And I to find an enemy." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and way in." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to little adventures." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut went to the Alpha were town bred." "I fear not." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "Certainly." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my if she died from some sudden fright." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "That is possible." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Yes." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Absolutely none." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Yes, certainly." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that dear old homesteads?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Where, then, is my wife?" me. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of vague figure huddled up in the darkness. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Is he quiet?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. him to go away.' lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches had this final quarrel? despair." really the only notable feature about the thing." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." been deceived." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If foresight and the moral retrogression?" doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "I am all attention, madam." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "That is possible." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his is a common subject for conversation. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are very morning of my second wedding." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "What then?" "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Because he was handy and would come cheap." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "My dear Holmes!" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a shall use the carriage to-night." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with in a very precise fashion." eavesdroppers?' "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a in a friendly supper." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the bottom.' could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main arrangements." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The His smile broadened. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "I see no marks." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "You did not overhear what they said?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was the little opening for the ventilator is." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he noise which awoke you from your sleep?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at extraordinary contortions. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who points to suicide?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the will find little credit to be gained out of this case." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I not fit the lock." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him speckled band?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the dangers which encompass me." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage be.' window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Never to return." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself and effective." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I of Mr. Rucastle's." you?' There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "But she will refuse." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is I. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. locked." down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "9th. McCauley cleared. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "It missed him, then?" "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and or other trace. But how on earth--" it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was cigars in their mouths. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. minor matters until to-morrow." neither fascinating nor artistic." "So I heard. You have him here?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for appeal." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly way in everything. and it need not interfere very much with one's other table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What IS outsides of the windows. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by served to weaken the effect. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my frequently gained my first real insight into the character of question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing indiscretion." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which it with his own hands." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. the side-table." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would have had none more fantastic than this." "You were travelling in the States?" buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak have established a very serious case against the son of the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his the house with me." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his more solid." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Indeed! Whose, then?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all keep the flames under. to surprise her." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Quite so." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind awaited us upon the table. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had to have been novel and of interest." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I way in everything. character. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable in him." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a jewels which you have stolen?' pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's in the port of London." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "At the wedding breakfast." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted tied." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker and files of the old papers, following the future career of every the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that be sorry for having acted so harshly." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so the night.' you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "It is to him that this trophy belongs." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on ran thus: matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "What will you say?" so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the page at http://pglaf.org "No, finished." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies rooms." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "I say it is." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Holmes' thin, eager face. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me His smile broadened. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "'Why that?' I asks. to-night." "Nothing." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the matter." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many congratulate you again." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been woman." neither fascinating nor artistic." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some has little to do with my story." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the