The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the good-night and bustled off upon her way. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it upon the sideboard." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and the driver. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs said I. "Was the window open?" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the fuss that is made over them." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year time." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the maid will bring up your coffee." "What are they?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings prepare for the new role I have to play." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "I never have." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how them?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "But I am all in the dark." "9th. McCauley cleared. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "That is easily got." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him tassel actually lying upon the pillow. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it what do you think they found in the pockets?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of excitement. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: voice, changing her seat as requested. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to have got?" which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less was lame." leaning back in his chair. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his ways of our fellow-men." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two official police." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "But not more so than I to find you." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Very murderous indeed." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my your own bird, so if you wish--" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness to me. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black it with his own hands." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary him nearly every evening." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "But what is it you wish?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Is he quiet?" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Thank you. And your address?" may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Countess of Morcar's?" business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the if she died from some sudden fright." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among was once confined in the cab my mission was practically have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk future lives." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the flock.' my secret was safe in his possession. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with upon an income of about 60 pounds." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are true." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Not social, then?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "But what is it you wish?" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the could go. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's do.' Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the was already answered. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call nothing of it?" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have hardly wander." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and just ask you whether you had heard it.' inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Very. But will he see it?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "And how did you find out?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "He said too much." married her." "And what then?" "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." purpose of examination. go--none." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague call for protection in the marriage market, for the present he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be yards of it?' the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Miss Holder?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "No." opened the door, and slipped through. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" this as likely?" what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day kindly on the shoulder. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with allusion to a rat. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my know what is wrong with it.' "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "What then?" central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their of a light. "How are you getting on?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most man. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what that you can jump it.' "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew evidence," I remarked. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard The King stared at him in amazement. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "And your mother is alive?" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of we went to search for him, face downward in a little "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he train from Paddington which would bring you there at about congratulate you again." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Yes." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Project Gutenberg-tm works. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all soul! here is her carriage at the door." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so second window is the one that I jumped from." side. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should must be when I saw the door open.' lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Heh?' http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "What will you say?" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Foundation are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "'Certainly not. But why?' the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it British peeress.'" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can everything which you would wish to know." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" meant it for the best. ways of our fellow-men." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Dark enough and sinister enough." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would in the port of London." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while distance from the station, and there we found the young lady plantation.' re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Yes." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has meant." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after tear off another piece?' I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. coat-tails." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, on re-entering her father's house?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns and inquire as to the address." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "This photograph!" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was daring than any effort of the imagination." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "The knees of his trousers." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near the south-west, I see." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His following enigmatical notices: again, where I was soon asleep. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his knowledge of the world." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the fact, we may call it conclusive." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of becomes even more simple." matter." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. attention." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. have had none more fantastic than this." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye.