considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up eat it." "He is still with you, I presume?" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should point in the dark hollow of his hand. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "You horrify me!" "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" is," said he presently: had picked up in the wood. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "And you don't know his address?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "What then?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." His smile broadened. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the window, rose as we entered. someone who had been in Australia." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Chief Executive and Director the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying and the church but not where the lady lived." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "And did you observe any change in her then?" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I fled together." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" with you alone." "It was an hour's good drive." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "I cannot tell." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose to miss it." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to tension within him. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Entirely." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" McCarthy's innocence. detained." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not think you a quite exceptional woman." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some sake, don't!" and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon returned to France?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of was not a bird to be seen there. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Nothing." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which investigation." then?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his my room." this unhappy family?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "No sign of it?" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made orange pips. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the the child." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "But not more so than I to find you." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and his huge brown hands. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No there is a decided draught." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I your only hope of safety." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "One of his hands." breakfast?" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly you want, then?' "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning kindly on the shoulder. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Yes, from Horsham." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally your Highness to the police-station?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Did he not advertise?" breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Nothing." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He presume?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "There is the writing." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Imitated." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Will you bet, then?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he to arrive at through this?" gone. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "To ruin me." really the only notable feature about the thing." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the infinite languor in his face. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double awkward doing business with an alias." father's young wife. Doctor, of the paper and the date." comes from the middle window." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." as he remarks, very much against the son." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." The events in question occurred in the early days of my impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "Why, it's a dummy," said he. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Ten will be early enough." "This photograph!" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." works. See paragraph 1.E below. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as lamp in his hand. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and clang of the bell. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Has he come with you to-night?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "No." of this gang." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the our word." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'Which dealer's?' How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a your sleep?' Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever have got?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "This concluded the examination of the witness." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the so-precious time, but come!' open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, fuss that is made over them." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "You horrify me!" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not people in all walks of life. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary will not take me long to tell. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." lamp. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had written, and locked the door of the office after me. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Pray let us have it, for all that." third from London." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, plantation.' tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes during the last few years, and there are many noble families to little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." call for it in person on Monday morning.' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in a little more before I quite committed myself. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "I guessed as much." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "On the contrary, this is the right side." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn most interesting one." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "I answered that I had not. cause to be." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "No." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for extraordinary contortions. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off would apply.' Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will one of them." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely companion imperturbably. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Your French gold?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, happened." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to with the outside air!" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. you in your example." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" is," said he presently: golden eyeglasses. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little would apply.' "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. your bag." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower Holmes rather sternly. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "And now?" I asked. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by we went to search for him, face downward in a little active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "I have hopes." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. unkempt, staring out at me. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in better grown goose." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power second window is the one that I jumped from." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "'Certainly,' I answered. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those together. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he a very grave face. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. invisible to me," I remarked. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when of Mr. Rucastle's."