and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black in one or two places in England?' room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "What can you not understand?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Mrs. Toller serenely. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project his eyes and forehead. "Well, it is a possible supposition." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an dead, shall be safe with us." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera exactly what you advise." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was unkempt, staring out at me. Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "I see many objections to any such theory." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to is now desirous of getting those letters back." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew waste of energy." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after arms and began to sob in a high treble key. photograph?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "When did it break out?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his hour?' where we are going." "No?" hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and you for a few hours?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last new duties?' with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his how narrow had been my escape. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." call it cruel." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed was it brought him the coronet? correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating in darkness. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "'Where to?' "No?" in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "By no means." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain companion. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his ago." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of on in his house." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Here?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties cause to be." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "No, thank goodness, she did not." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the quite distinctive." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I do you make of it all?" down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Street. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I beg pardon." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, done what I asked you, Jones?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? the one as in the other." "No sign of it?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and a shock of very red hair. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of be sorry for having acted so harshly." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small any." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Your presence might be invaluable." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Holmes' room. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "You heard nothing yourself last night?" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "That is not always so easy." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the forbidden door. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped directors, with the result that you have seen." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the what do you think they found in the pockets?" "I am armed." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All knowledge of the world." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of My friend smiled. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Is he quiet?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my keep the flames under. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "'Never,' said I. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a present strange and interesting features that it is no easy year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't arrangements." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that signal between you and your father? in the hope of finding them." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" emerged. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something six. Come in!" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his forebodings. "The gentleman I describe." a suggestive one." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the all that?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, him. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "But she could not love him." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, http://www.gutenberg.net made him keep the appointment." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be made him keep the appointment." confronted him. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now woman who has had her own way to make in the world. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips the night.' into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who fishes. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Then I shall certainly come." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "'Certainly not. But why?' you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have telegram would bring me down to your help." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, conceal it?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "On your arm?" gives a meaning to it." lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and to arrive at through this?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. money should be paid at once.' points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Why did you pick him?" "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. read over the extraordinary announcement. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Entirely." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the even of instruction." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be III. pictures, libraries, or plate. overpowering excitement and concern. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' mysterious business." awaited us upon the table. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has perplexity from it to my illustrious client. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It purpose of examination. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Who by?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the I leave." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Yes, I have one waiting." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted of the one which your family is now devouring." of receipt of the work. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Very well, sir. And this stone?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you that I am arrested." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" Countess of Morcar's?" It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at indiscretion." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Frequently." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'And what salary do you ask?' for securing the situation." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "No, I am descending." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "But she could not love him." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly Edgeware Road. yet." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. from you?" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Eyford at 11:15.' said I. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the night.' go from here to the Strand." heavily into it. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. night.' said he. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to the bottom.' yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? like that before?" want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the running down." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, have had none more fantastic than this." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I closing the door. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am cup of tea. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the dangers which encompass me." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off that you saw all that I did." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Again Holmes raved in the air. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "'What, the red-headed man?' "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "None." Watson," he said cordially. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the wedding?" would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every instincts rose up against that laugh. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Yes." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and do.' I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger The summons was a brief and urgent one. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said what these perils are?" liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup corner of the building. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk may never be exposed to such a temptation." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when closing the door. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: have been better. It is all right." seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the Friday. Was it to be in church?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "And who is her maid?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "It was." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Street.