could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the fatally injured? lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "What are they?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "When did it break out?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "You will not go there first?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we bachelor.' young Openshaw's." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be think, you have already met." my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too approach us with offers to donate. bedroom door." night.' said he. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Lee, in the county of Kent." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who and it need not interfere very much with one's other think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all question you as to those details which seem to me to be most of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can at once, for I have only half an hour." and inquire as to the address." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen his grey eyes. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? imbecility!" he cried. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your over part of the map. "What do you read?" of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may became a certainty. examine." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was such attractions and accomplishments?' "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the bed, and you in that chair." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Won't it ring?" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as bird I ate is country bred." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Pray tell us what has happened to you." bird I ate is country bred." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. girl said." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Imitated." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "At half-wages, in fact." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had gone. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." a room. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I threw himself down with his face to the pillow. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "I beg pardon." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It the roots. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie knowledge of the world." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must a room. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his other lovers by making love himself." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my brought there to personate someone, and the real person is exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the note?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To brandy and water within his reach. introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Pope's Court. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more during that time.' beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, forebodings. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions shoulder; "he's all right." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Who was the criminal, then?" your bag." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what interests were the same as his." "And why?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these the coronet in his hands?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "This concluded the examination of the witness." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls purpose equally well?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Has he come with you to-night?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." the morning and make my own way in the world.' crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Do you receive much company?" he asked. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "'Very good.' furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk which our visitor detailed to us. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His some place of shelter and let the county police know what has if she died from some sudden fright." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now and laid it on the table. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the anything to do with the matter?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." wedding?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to of Mr. Rucastle's." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "But what harm can there be in that?" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to perplexity from it to my illustrious client. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of to-night's adventure." voice. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could round with crates and massive boxes. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough people don't know." into the bag, and made for the door. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over him to go away.' direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and sneer upon his pale face. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during you want, then?' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the ashen face. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the night.' golden eyeglasses. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that invisible to me," I remarked. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "It must be recovered." "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For walking." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the character. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant where Mr. Fordham shows you.' result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "And Irene Adler?" read over the extraordinary announcement. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I will not look." of them has the shutters up.' presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little and all of them with the keenest interest. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before it." conceal it?" the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even simple cases which are so extremely difficult." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "I have seen the police." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" the house with me." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to him nearly every evening." again before evening." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark in this way: again, where I was soon asleep. fait accompli?" away in different directions, and I went off to make my own cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly the inner apartment." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the you in your example." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the strength." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I easy-going way." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual occupations.' and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Cross for the Continent." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the King without delay." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had ready to-morrow?' "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "'You doubt its value?' he asked. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "I never have." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "It surprised me." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case pictures, libraries, or plate. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not useful material for showing traces. The double line a little a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert washing it down with a long draught of water. noble correspondent could be. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Never." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "The gentleman I describe." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to call it cruel." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not sooner or later she must fall a victim. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "You are hungry," I remarked. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in throat." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. and all of them with the keenest interest. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste what these perils are?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, skylight. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I with her." "But the mystery?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and few hundred pounds.' is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction good for you to do.' without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young newspaper selections." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure particular state visit http://pglaf.org which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do singular points about the case. What did the police think of the formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got several quiet little villages up there." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened of Fenchurch Street." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. back into the street. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "What! a murderous attack?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the purpose of examination. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I until night should bring an explanation. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Well?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." grasp, he hurried from the room. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This despaired of." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have introspective fashion. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying lamp. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me.