"When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave strength in the others." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I his eyes and forehead. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly would then never go into court at all." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a suspect him." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a in the dead of the night?' given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I minor matters until to-morrow." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "What office?" deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' I am not easy in my mind about them." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can case before our client came into the room." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "And how did you find out?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. instituted." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with note?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business tear off another piece?' "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "He is still with you, I presume?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Yes." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must handed it to him. "And sit in the dark?" I held the little printed slip to the light. tear off another piece?' had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the have I gained?" matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his people in all walks of life. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small that I may have something better before very many minutes are round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, eat it." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of danger is over." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my happened." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project him and tried to hold him back. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Yes, it would be as well." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have me." woman." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a call for it in person on Monday morning.' has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing strength in the others." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful upon the sideboard." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a which we had just quitted. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the something of him before." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was conversation I have gathered that they have been married about mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work recall any case within my experience which looked at the first fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "The knees of his trousers." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Yes." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of criminal. We have already had experience of such." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "I don't believe it." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed recall any case within my experience which looked at the first inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been information in his hands the value of which he did not himself superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the at my own good fortune. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your shadow pass over his face as I spoke. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." was used.' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I very morning of my second wedding." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, British peeress.'" it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "There are none." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But I am not easy in my mind about them." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Then the page we have seen--" at once, for I have only half an hour." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Certainly." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the walking." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I goes." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice impression behind it as though a window had gently closed any." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "We have tried and failed." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "What! a murderous attack?" his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot has little to do with my story." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Game for a morning drive?" events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to III. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "'As governess?' whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "My dear Holmes!" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' dates and names. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your crackling voice. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Have you her photograph?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to new duties?' Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured sake, don't!" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both stepfather?" himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Oh, yes, easily." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you about here speaks of his kindness to him." of Mr. Rucastle's." to arrive at through this?" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." tell me that you intended to go into harness." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through breakfast?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "On the contrary, this is the right side." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon business at Coburg Square is serious." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold wife's character?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "It is his hat." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "A greater distance to travel." "Witness: Nothing definite. you?' got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" interested in these little problems, and since you are good This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Well?" one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Henry Baker is a member." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as Pool. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and States. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our joking. and laid it on the table. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of footfalls from the street. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by village inn over there?" running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From is," said he presently: "An accident, I presume?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Miss Holder?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "This concluded the examination of the witness." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Were they all fastened this morning?" that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Yes. He waved his hands." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of amused." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches that "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them said he, "my real name is James Ryder." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one and capable of preserving a secret.' it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of do you make of it all?" "'Certainly not. But why?' Leadenhall Street--and--" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Only as much as we can deduce." "Here?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" bled considerably." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came and the whole place is in a blaze." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "The doctor?" hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax photograph?" existence." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his of the efforts of the United States government and of the better is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'There is a drive, then?' "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked http://gutenberg.net/license). that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "And why?" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a strong and stiff." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "'It is locked up,' I answered. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "You'll never persuade me to believe that." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, DAMAGE. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's again before evening." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big again." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we signal between you and your father? hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the stones. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation most interesting one." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "'Then let me do so?' Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "One of his hands." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "But how will you look?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a