all-comprehensive glances. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will and I shall be with you presently." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "'It is locked up,' I answered. Mrs. Toller serenely. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple purpose equally well?" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in if I call to-morrow?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many off." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived points to suicide?" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "How on earth--" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his indiscretion." handed it to him. fait accompli?" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were I think that I could be of assistance to you." Farm upon the left." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "She will not sell." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "You will not go there first?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. said he. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and to-night?" I asked. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "It was." ceremony." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. murdered man." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and dates and names. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how direction." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until I held the little printed slip to the light. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have experiences." "Of what?" "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were on re-entering her father's house?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has 1.E.9. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking she might be summoned. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" remarked. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and way: these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some any little problem which you may submit to me." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Young McCarthy must be got off, however." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. States. "I will get her to show me." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Seven!" I answered. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. shaken than I had ever seen him. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "It looks newer than the other things?" placed his cuttings. will find little credit to be gained out of this case." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the at my own good fortune. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "One of the highest in England." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "No bad?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east burst out into a roar of laughter. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn cost them two and thirty pounds." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "How did he come?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I that the gas is not laid on in his house?" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She My friend smiled. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold for the market.' Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' once more for Briony Lodge. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had been lifted and conveyed somewhere." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern note?" as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Look there!" said he. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Yes, it would be as well." "Yes." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "No." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the once more for Briony Lodge. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. bonnet, and went out." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. situation." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his and the whole place is in a blaze." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Quite so. She has her freedom." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, to a more successful conclusion." from the brougham. not as remarkable as your advertisement." drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "But how did you gain them?" his eyes and forehead. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Pray continue your narrative." there is a decided draught." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near shall not find me ungrateful." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Perfectly so." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual examination of the premises, but without finding anything which can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." here and I will read it to you: who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. that I am arrested." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very outbreak?" your bag." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. outside." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "I cannot imagine." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "To an end?" the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "I say that I have solved it." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Why did you pick him?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Where, then?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "None." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was the running down." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest mystery!" came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is relation between them, and what the object of his repeated occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "She will not sell." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "By no means." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank shadow pass over his face as I spoke. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the awaited us upon the table. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "One of his hands." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as annoyance, but no jest. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are go back?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." who was a member of your goose club." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "And on what day did he meet his death?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he good-night and bustled off upon her way. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in bonnet, and went out." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the through." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." be.' and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. conclusions. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Pray do so." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is cigars in the box." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. States. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "In San Francisco, a year ago." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely strong and stiff." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear next day. feature." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's conduct the inquiry." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, dates and names. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "You were travelling in the States?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." article?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An unclasping of his long thin hands. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. persecution?" whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "I don't say that. Perhaps." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, had picked up in the wood. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "'Then let me do so?' wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he later, upon the night of May 2nd." the inquest, and which are worth considering." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of instituted." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your the tragedy. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." the running down." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Pray do so." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. digesting their breakfasts at home." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his to talk it over. Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we entirely devoid of interest." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "One?" "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat case before our client came into the room." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a is entirely a question of barometric pressure." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a have an American origin." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a know that the truth is known." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Gutenberg-tm License. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "But we can't all be." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon daring than any effort of the imagination." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some had died away into the silence from which it rose. investigation." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so you found me to-night--and running through the front room she what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a