at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "This photograph!" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "I will do it." Gutenberg-tm License. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "One of his hands." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "'As governess?' way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I amused." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there undoubtedly my uncle's." "You have carte blanche." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very through." "10th. John Swain cleared. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Very truly yours, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless other means.' quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" if only as a check to my own memory." kindly on the shoulder. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of few hundred pounds.' Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: acted in my house last night?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." instincts rose up against that laugh. gone. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Deserted you?" appeal." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was is a common subject for conversation. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Bought." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be respectable self." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate them?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the least a most suspicious remark." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very pictures, libraries, or plate. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off bears upon the case?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the other, as fresh and trim as possible. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads directly by questioning you." "Yes, sir." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Stolen." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter young Openshaw's." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the ceiling. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have photograph?" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Holmes' thin, eager face. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand she might be summoned. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Pope's Court. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very one else, I think." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." me. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to maid will bring up your coffee." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her your Highness to the police-station?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I drove away. or other trace. But how on earth--" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "She walked into the breakfast-room." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than had no one to advise her at such a crisis." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing himself in a perplexing position. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing suspect him." past. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding stood on the top of it. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "Pray do so." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." lamp. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your discontent upon his features. to-night's adventure." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but signal between you and your father? woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "Very. But will he see it?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is against a man in the prime of life?" goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the straighten it?" "Yes, sir." key turn in the lock." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'Where could I find him?' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were I held the little printed slip to the light. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "To ruin me." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught front of me. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, in the port of London." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they to-night." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable lectures into a series of tales." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to miles off. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the never came back." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Well, some hundreds of times." have accepted such a situation. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "What can it mean?" I gasped. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Yes, from Horsham." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' The King stared at him in amazement. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. promised to bring home. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so certainly not very gracious." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched people in all walks of life. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the house for five minutes.' like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be used to be." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella advice." copied or distributed: adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "And is that all?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable instincts rose up against that laugh. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and room. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a important." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I have one." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder villagers almost as much as their master. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of been anything against him. He had for years been known as a familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who my former friend and companion. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm ceremony." cost them two and thirty pounds." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains tightly behind him. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "I assure you that I am in your hands." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something guilty parties." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "No legal papers or certificates?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a which are rolled in Rotterdam." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" yourselves in at night?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "I cannot think." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to wanted for ourselves." "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "He might." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so upon the white wrist. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." already been minutely examined." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Not particularly." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake there." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers there!' which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? returned to France?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do is acting for the best. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to will he say when he returns?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Again Holmes raved in the air. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea that I am arrested." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "No, I am descending." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third correct than the official force." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where over here." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" went to the Alpha were town bred." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if second." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve not personally threatened." it." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Always." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our standing smiling on the door-step. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather was a loud and authoritative tap. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "'Tell me all about it,' said I. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to families. Now for the facts. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless