began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the a very grave face. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. of Mr. Rucastle's." absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided to where he stood hid behind the curtain. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he one's self under obligations.' entirely lost his self-respect." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it your troubles." "I should be immensely obliged to you." "'Entirely.' "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the it." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to question," said Holmes, smiling. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with rat could hardly pass through." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side door?" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past strength of mind to control. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "My Mary? Impossible!" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Yes, all." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Nothing?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love grasp, he hurried from the room. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "My dear Holmes!" in the hope of finding them." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" of Fenchurch Street." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "From his hat?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Was she in good spirits?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Absolutely?" becomes even more simple." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "And for present expenses?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears of your young ladies.' "Nearly eleven." in. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit companion quietly. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a and laid it on the table. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "What I expected to see." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "And how?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Oh, the cause is excellent!" her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, points in connection with it which never have been, and probably first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his she might be summoned. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and straighten it?" of them has the shutters up.' caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has away in different directions, and I went off to make my own was a loud and authoritative tap. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have that the gas is not laid on in his house?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his death." "That is it on the dressing-table." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was main points of my analysis." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm that he has suffered." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "In which, sir?" detained." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, all?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "No?" Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Married! When?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two the devil!" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "No bad?" "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you held up the lantern and gazed about him. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which pound a week." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "I would give my fortune to have them back." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had over his head with a sweet womanly caress. With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes ready to-morrow?' was already answered. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and head. So long, then!" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "It is no ordinary one." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in very old mansion. views." of them has the shutters up.' "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what she might be summoned. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle His name is Francis Prosper." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "'A dozen yards or so.' all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his lectures into a series of tales." "At what time?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent would then never go into court at all." comes from the middle window." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "But what harm can there be in that?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Gutenberg-tm License. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. laugh and put his lips to my ear. be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Eh? What was that?" His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the know all about it," he snarled. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Pray let us have it, for all that." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders relation between them, and what the object of his repeated I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather conceal it?" too. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "He is still with you, I presume?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "She walked into the breakfast-room." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Do you go out much in society?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of Surrey." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "I do." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "How often?" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came not interfere, come what may. You understand?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever house for five minutes.' "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Have you her photograph?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "But what harm can there be in that?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that ways of our fellow-men." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, outbreak?" guilty parties." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Was the window open?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there himself in a perplexing position. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the the salesman. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges could go. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at made him keep the appointment." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive closing the door. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Yes." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. six. Come in!" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Precisely so. But how--" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out remarked. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. I approached. prison!" work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Very truly yours, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his see a sister of mine apply for." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any way in." standing smiling on the door-step. which are rolled in Rotterdam." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "You did not overhear what they said?" his cane at the bell-pull. clanging. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I Pool. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said vague figure huddled up in the darkness. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Pool. such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves nice household for a young lady." "Pray do so." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "No good news?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "None." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "No. What a strange idea!" disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who washing it down with a long draught of water. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you placed his cuttings. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "One of the highest in England." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Yes, they were peculiar boots." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of nice household for a young lady." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my yourselves in at night?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a man. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'Stolen!' he cried. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. few hundred pounds.' police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the indeed happy." "To ruin me."