You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "'You doubt its value?' he asked. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" the window, rose as we entered. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to colonel looking down at me. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Two days later this same performance was gone through under eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. imbecility!" he cried. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. closely." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing and wait." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off had formerly been in part my own. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Yes, sir." "What, then, did Peterson do?" his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to triumphant cloud from his cigarette. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed disturbance in my wife." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. cigars in the box." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box should be taken.' you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to think you a quite exceptional woman." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, His name is Francis Prosper." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "What then?" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "May I see it?" "You don't mind breaking the law?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these do you make of it all?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see new duties?' "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time that?' brain must have something in it." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "That sounds a little paradoxical." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp husband's writing, madam." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, hereditary King of Bohemia." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom her also." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "What! You do not mean bodies?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. me. You must get home instantly and act." "What of the rat, then?" weary and pale-looking. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: since then to throw any light upon what became of him." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own instituted." wedding?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either views." orange pips. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend which it had come upon my father." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself present." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The would apply.' thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said death." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Holmes, the busybody!" "Have you it here?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "My stepfather's business papers." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go very morning of my second wedding." results." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. third from London." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back tapping his fingers upon the table. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "If I can be of use." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Absolutely?" My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I asked. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it on re-entering her father's house?" there has been an enclosure here!" and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "I will try. What is it?" "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "'Yes, it was gone.' despair." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see what I may call a really hard day's work." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than sneer upon his pale face. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right to have that photograph." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the one which it was hard to resist. business." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. him!" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "I would pay ten." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of system of imprisonment?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "It is no ordinary one." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less voice, changing her seat as requested. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth question," said Holmes, smiling. forehead. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "He said that you could solve anything." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up children over to America with him, so that I found myself without I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence were wasted." "'Ten to two.' "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "You have the photograph?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I nothing with him." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the questioning and rather startled gaze. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. companion. said he. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of with the outside air!" "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had get the tickets." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here with frightened eyes at his accuser. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "I think it very unlikely." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Will you bet, then?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as just ask you whether you had heard it.' cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "He said too much." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. when your master had gone out." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has investigation." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at sparkled upon his finger. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "Of what?" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "But it has twice been burgled." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "The doctor?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have cigars in their mouths. gigantic client. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "It goes to the housekeeper's room." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. what these perils are?" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? presented which may be striking and bizarre without being said I. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Very truly yours, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her electronic works conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Quite so." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to into the bag, and made for the door. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Where, then?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper could gather together that I was able to avert another public days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography thin, with a long, sharp nose?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. examine." "It was." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern golden eyeglasses. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Frequently." within hail.' the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my matter." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "A greater distance to travel." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, conclusions. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "That also I could fathom." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I here and I will read it to you: months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. you." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "To ruin me." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Seven!" I answered. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his mystery!" gbnewby@pglaf.org no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full populous neighbourhood." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "You horrify me." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was intimate personal affairs in this public manner." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "I came to find a friend." as this. Pray let me have the details." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "'Yes, sir.' fish-monger and a tide-waiter." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from fuss that is made over them." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the night.' thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical always that they were such commands as a lady might with the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "I am to be neutral?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that gone. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "Yes. He waved his hands." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with http://gutenberg.net/license). to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Yes, certainly." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Will you go?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had