invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit sooner or later she must fall a victim. "That is it on the dressing-table." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "That sounds a little paradoxical." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" himself in a perplexing position. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" seen the man in the road." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the one as in the other." about here speaks of his kindness to him." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and are, I think, all that we need." companion imperturbably. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, back to my heart. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." weapon." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Farm upon the left." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been generous with you in money matters.' "Thank you. Pray proceed." the very morning of the wedding." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." to-morrow." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually to take care of herself." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He to some other building. just ask you whether you had heard it.' along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest happened." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "Then you may entirely rely on me." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "It is possible." "What can you not understand?" future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "You have compromised yourself seriously." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "I cannot as yet see any connection." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "He disappeared so suddenly." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' be. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "And your mother is alive?" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. both be extremely obliged.' Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free is now desirous of getting those letters back." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "So it appears." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "I saw her in conversation with her maid." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "My own seal." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you shoulder. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she lumber-room." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they to-night's adventure." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very allusion to a rat. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "My private note-paper." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Where is it, then?" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window tail." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was train from Paddington which would bring you there at about vanished into the darkness. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish true." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as II. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, cost them two and thirty pounds." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely that he will be back before evening." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project bearing upon the case." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "And Miss Sutherland?" Sutherland. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, bonnet, and went out." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so open." "It surprised me." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend row." there when the Rucastles went away." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. details." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction of fine shops and stately business premises that they really black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "But how did you gain them?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "The best possible." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. morning." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "In heaven's name, what for?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," pierced for earrings?" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good floor. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Then I can wait in the next room." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Well, it is a possible supposition." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Very truly yours, quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland chamber." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the burst out into a roar of laughter. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. soul! here is her carriage at the door." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in happened." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Of Friday, June 19th." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week really the only notable feature about the thing." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who rooms." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long became a certainty. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to enter Dr. Roylott's room." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling was lame." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "But it has twice been burgled." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought developed." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were Mary, has deserted me." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his not personally threatened." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Yes, only one." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is upon the sideboard." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had colour had been driven from his face. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I where we are going." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom you give your casting vote to?" "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Pray continue your narrative." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "That also I could fathom." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped direction." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." problems help me to do so." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, now. It seems that there had been some informality about their untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew and the whole place is in a blaze." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, strong reason behind." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. someone who had been in Australia." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "Dark enough and sinister enough." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and directors have had misgivings upon the subject." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the the station." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the room while you explain this matter?" carpenter." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell washing it down with a long draught of water. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "What have you done?" asked Holmes. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'And the work?' "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. tell him that I know him to be innocent." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Where, indeed?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "It is solved." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being had died away into the silence from which it rose. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "On Monday." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where lumber-room." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as is acting for the best. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he spark where all is dark to me." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend always that they were such commands as a lady might with charge against him will break down." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern dead, shall be safe with us." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting again, where I was soon asleep. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Why? What do you mean?" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Precisely." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Deserted you?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull an introduction to him?" the bottom.' explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon