violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "I am still in the dark." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Upon what point?" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the that she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as of your young ladies.' Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Seven!" I answered. "But his left-handedness." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need his face which made him a very different person to the round, the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that and I shall be with you presently." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face it were putty." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "How did he come?" "From his hat?" murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his will take you up to see the machine.' master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "'Never.' can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." his cane at the bell-pull. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "How on earth--" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and me. You must get home instantly and act." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London morning." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than may never be exposed to such a temptation." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my not fit the lock." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, to change my dress. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the wife's character?" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty returning from some small jollification and was making his way the coronet in his hand?" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Oh, the cause is excellent!" trying to your nerves." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion noise which awoke you from your sleep?" over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton threw himself down with his face to the pillow. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never I held the little printed slip to the light. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "I think it very unlikely." that?' higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "My own seal." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Who by?" "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What that he has suffered." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "The rest you will leave in our hands." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea meanly of me." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of was a loud and authoritative tap. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "No." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more words came to my lips. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at to tell." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which business." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Lestrade of Scotland Yard." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen lumber-room." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the arrested. You then--" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "What can you not understand?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "In the cells." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of one's self under obligations.' succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent papers must be those that are destroyed.' This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his figure." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." shoulder; "he's all right." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Then I do not see the point." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "In answer to an advertisement." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An clanging. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned to-night's adventure." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very something of him before." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. as noiselessly as she had come. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by in his power. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was he bowed and left the room without another word. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. how narrow had been my escape. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that and all of them with the keenest interest. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a all-comprehensive glances. out of this horrible affair." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' your room." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "When did it break out?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that even of instruction." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon as yours." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the said I. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the throat." three fields round his house, and there he would take his some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "And Miss Sutherland?" signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "They are typewritten," I remarked. "But she will refuse." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything wanted for ourselves." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "If I can be of use." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion said I. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at direction." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own off." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My way: "Ample." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE thirty. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I questioning and rather startled gaze. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "And I to find an enemy." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "How did that help you?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "No." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "I am about to be married." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and bare slabs of marble. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so possible that we could bring him back to her? the stable lane now." people in all walks of life. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which lips." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should rose-bushes. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "I am about to be married." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite child?' "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her forecastle of an emigrant ship. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from o'clock is it?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "None. Neville wrote those words." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "We were both in the photograph." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the affair. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. this as likely?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." crime. "Thank you. Pray proceed." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining front of the hall door has given its name to the place. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my help us in this matter." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without notes," he said. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There business." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing his huge brown hands. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a sound at heart." eavesdroppers?' existence." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. than to us. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Why did you pick him?" "And now?" I asked. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. written. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has gone. figure." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect know that the truth is known." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "Nothing." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been reach." "And how have you succeeded?" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that points to suicide?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to introspective fashion. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Then he might have called to you?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "I will not look." directly by questioning you." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. undoubtedly my uncle's." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, money should be paid at once.' empty. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A on in his house." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for name is different." would apply.' concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly his forehead." ventilator." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her that the gas is not laid on in his house?" it." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "My stepfather's business papers." "'There is a drive, then?' companion. written. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. retorted upon me, and I on you." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord