without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but upon an income of about 60 pounds." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's lost his Christmas dinner." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his seem to you to be relevant or not." "But she will refuse." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the and your relations to her." clanging. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "In the cells." "Well, but China?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at interested in these little problems, and since you are good "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Two days later this same performance was gone through under wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was possible that we could bring him back to her? over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the burst out into a roar of laughter. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and your sleep?' "Perhaps we may make them less so." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Mrs. Toller serenely. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Does that suggest anything?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the some water from a caraffe. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "'Yes, I promise.' beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was you." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "But I am all in the dark." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too a good hundred miles off by now." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you correct than the official force." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "And the murderer?" take the flies, but not before." everything which you would wish to know." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." with you alone." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "You were travelling in the States?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" detained." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "And on what day did he meet his death?" How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you miles off. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the questioning and rather startled gaze. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I directly by questioning you." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, back alive. me have 200 pounds?' Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The Have you good authority for what you say?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "You are all wrong." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide he. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, test if we have an answer to our advertisement." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would was lame." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making assist you in forming an opinion." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet arrangements." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to strange features which were associated with the two crimes which world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Was she in good spirits?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then you want, then?' to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty disturbance in my wife." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even extraordinary contortions. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "A client, then?" sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "And how did you verify them?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The into the bag, and made for the door. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the For additional contact information: "Has he come with you to-night?" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': was not a bird to be seen there. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Absolutely none." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is could not account in any way for the presence of the missing toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "'Why that?' I asks. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch mystery!" "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the to talk it over. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up me what he had done with the three missing stones. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That correct than the official force." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us with the outside air!" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle done what I asked you, Jones?" I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my pierced for earrings?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was to-night?" I asked. Does that suggest anything?" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since coroner's jury." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Perhaps I have." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. quite distinctive." "Just look it up, then." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an gone before you can get him to hospital." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." chill to my heart. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could comes from the middle window." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "And how?" "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the forecastle of an emigrant ship. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I think that it is very probable." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly to take care of herself." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "What have you to say now?" into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a papers diligently of late, have you not?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Come in!" said Holmes. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Have you it here?" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you give your casting vote to?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be will he say when he returns?" "Who was the criminal, then?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. hereditary King of Bohemia." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had prepare for the new role I have to play." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "I have seen the police." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." get the tickets." occurred." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into suddenly upon us." the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." light and attacked it." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "He slept on the premises." "Always." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united charged with?" poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "But I have heard all that you have heard." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'You cannot say what it was?' experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Of what?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman indeed happy." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill started for the Temple to see my husband. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "None. Neville wrote those words." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Precisely so. But how--" extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the house with me." me have 200 pounds?' than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Edgeware Road. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down hard-headed British jury." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of that you saw all that I did." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us fear." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a papers." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely papers must be those that are destroyed.' collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the very morning of the wedding." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Never." as yours." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "You have a clue?" little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "Frequently." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his breakfast?" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a events, Mr. Windibank!" "'Very good.' could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, to a more successful conclusion." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "From his hat?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "But you would not advise me to refuse?" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what