a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. maiden herself was most instructive." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Were they all fastened this morning?" desk. Sutherland?" If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "That is easily got." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "'Stolen!' he cried. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "He is dead," cried several voices. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "At the wedding breakfast." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which generous with you in money matters.' thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers if only as a check to my own memory." "Yes." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "One horse?" interjected Holmes. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who had died away into the silence from which it rose. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you bedroom door." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Nothing?" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at had this final quarrel? through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which and glanced through. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "But she could not love him." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you case before our client came into the room." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its new duties?' "Won't it ring?" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "What have you done?" asked Holmes. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' front of me. tear off another piece?' "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Watson," he said cordially. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not prison!" "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, better grown goose." never came back." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "I have solved it." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' strength." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "What I expected to see." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "'About the same.' Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, was lame." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "By train from Waterloo." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "'About the same.' all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a this truth that in these little records of our cases which you my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural tail." it." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, front of me. business came to an end." "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to face and glided from the room. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "To an English lawyer named Norton." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my events, Mr. Windibank!" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the allusion to a rat. have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his his eyes and forehead. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Doctor, of the paper and the date." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what stalked out of the room. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," colonel looking down at me. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "'Where to?' his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not key turn in the lock." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and I am not easy in my mind about them." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Lee, in the county of Kent." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' handed it to him. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope father's young wife. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Farm upon the left." your sleep?' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away night.' said he. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional back alive. people in all walks of life. time." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so noble correspondent could be. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil or other trace. But how on earth--" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it my secret was safe in his possession. "Yes. He waved his hands." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." nonsense.' away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "It is true that I have been generally successful." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Come in!" said Holmes. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Miss Holder?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions fattened it expressly for you.' would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There hand, madam?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and and the whole place is in a blaze." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are open." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to was lame." "Yes, sir." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front away in different directions, and I went off to make my own concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside His smile broadened. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Not social, then?" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "It is possible." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed your troubles." "The knees of his trousers." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Quite so. She has her freedom." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. despair." most interesting one." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable bird I ate is country bred." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down was once confined in the cab my mission was practically business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort what I may call a really hard day's work." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Well, but China?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. child?' His name is Francis Prosper." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "'Never.' deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. may never be exposed to such a temptation." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "BALLARAT." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, minor matters until to-morrow." past. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "I cannot tell." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall It was close upon four before the door opened, and a delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Very much so." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable DISSOLVED. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "It came here." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I beg pardon." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with might help us?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that at home. what I may call a really hard day's work." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "And on what day did he meet his death?" minor matters until to-morrow." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "About a month then." "There is the writing." "She told me to ask you." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." and wait." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Did he not advertise?" as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, business in the City. She little knew what. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in the little opening for the ventilator is." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time case before our client came into the room." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. obstinate." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly conduct the inquiry." narrative." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the hair?' second window is the one that I jumped from." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "You'll never persuade me to believe that." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad washing it down with a long draught of water. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "It is his hat." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "How about poison?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "'Where to?' pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang there is a decided draught." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." drove away. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Then how many are there?" "Not I." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard despair." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that you." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I his wife has ceased to love him." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in overpowering excitement and concern. "What office?" "The landlord of the Alpha." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean might help us?" stammered. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Yesterday." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm