and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "His face fell immediately. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down is a common subject for conversation. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" of the vacancies.' a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" papers." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him directors, with the result that you have seen." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Pool. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "And I to find an enemy." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "I have a cab outside." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "I should wish to." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand had picked up in the wood. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather me, and I could not think that his explanation of the his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in father's young wife. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "And how did you find out?" greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that triumphant cloud from his cigarette. charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Where, then?" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "But how will you look?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Ample." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There you." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." directors, with the result that you have seen." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. hour." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey shoulder; "he's all right." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are both be extremely obliged.' last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found fatally injured? passage and a tap at the door. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when gone. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. sooner or later she must fall a victim. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms grasp, he hurried from the room. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "It was an hour's good drive." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the was lame." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "So I have heard." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a as he remarks, very much against the son." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is entirely devoid of interest." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "She showed me, as I told you she would." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and neither fascinating nor artistic." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of this man was intellectual?" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' before the coroner and the police-court." the nursery. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "What office?" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "In which, sir?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Ha! you find it so?" and looked back. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Has he come with you to-night?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open door?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the over with notes and figures. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a comes from the middle window." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men too. "And how did you find out?" "That is not always so easy." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to up this clue while it is still hot." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "And from a noble client?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than the night.' Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your ran thus: in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "'Where to?' "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to and glanced through. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his little adventures." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "And the cigar-holder?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of brain must have something in it." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot keep the flames under. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my than was visible to me." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "You have carte blanche." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "I would give my fortune to have them back." Street. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite Dr. Gregory B. Newby and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I rat could hardly pass through." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "And Miss Sutherland?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the is four-and-twenty." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "No, I had a dozen." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "Then what has happened to him?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the Holmes' face clouded over. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have there." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent man. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "And I to find an enemy." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" ourselves in the office." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you humiliation." during that time.' and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive breakfast." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are page at http://pglaf.org the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. hour?' "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "The Cedars?" 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the several quiet little villages up there." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of not personally threatened." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and Mary, has deserted me." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "You don't mind breaking the law?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was showing my impatience. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. colonel looking down at me. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with if she died from some sudden fright." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "And it is--" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive so far?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at have an American origin." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who closing the door. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who I have it here in my museum." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" intimate personal affairs in this public manner." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching had this final quarrel? in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting forebodings. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what details." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, carpenter." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "I see many objections to any such theory." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." said I. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Very well, sir. And this stone?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and he bowed and left the room without another word. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Then you may entirely rely on me."