business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Yes, sir." charge against him will break down." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "What do you mean?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" appointment with me for six o'clock?" "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the awkward doing business with an alias." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Very much so." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at are windows in it, of course?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is interest. They are important, you understand, without being "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The as he folded up the epistle. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "Do you know him?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this me have 200 pounds?' looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from unprecedented a position." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Sutherland. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Very. But will he see it?" side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted 'I should be able to look after that for you.' really the only notable feature about the thing." "How can you tell that?" "I know where it is." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not through." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you pound a week." morning." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the down from London to inquire more deeply into it." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. through." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Was he the only applicant?" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the to have been novel and of interest." sake, don't!" Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my papers diligently of late, have you not?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Did your wife hear all this?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "I was afraid that you were engaged." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Have you it here?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the situation." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Never." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Holmes' thin, eager face. "What will you say?" "I cannot tell." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they I have it here in my museum." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "None." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "By train from Waterloo." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "At half-wages, in fact." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your It may be so in this case, also." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I should like to see him very much." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came weapon." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "What! Had he lost his wife?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never to me. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his brandy and water within his reach. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "The knees of his trousers." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "When did it break out?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence me what he had done with the three missing stones. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now was already answered. advice." would apply.' endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Ha! you find it so?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could we went to search for him, face downward in a little a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other have been better. It is all right." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what six. Come in!" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the roots. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my there is a decided draught." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the how narrow had been my escape. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "'Entirely.' means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these cup of tea. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "From his hat?" vault. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. you?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Which surely he restored to their owner?" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a it." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." purpose of examination. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "I don't believe it." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can chair. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your an introduction to him?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would nonsense.' James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and that, and I came down." rooms." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Yes, they were peculiar boots." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Always." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "I will, Miss Turner." quite distinctive." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint without a word or a look. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Yes." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "That is possible." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Texas, I think." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little letters?" appeared upon the scene." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "This photograph!" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." that, and I came down." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, relief. spare." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the child." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "May I see it?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'Not at all. I only doubt--' expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Holmes. one's self under obligations.' street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended know that the truth is known." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered him to go away.' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "None." come either from the window or the door. My attention was treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a him and tried to hold him back. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'What do you call purely nominal?' "I have seen the police." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "'Certainly,' I answered. direction." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." matter." think that any burglar could have done. "What! Had he lost his wife?" been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Of what?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in highroad, where all traces were lost. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to of the way of danger. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Not in the least." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "And on what day did he meet his death?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too desk. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the salesman. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of into the bag, and made for the door. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "What will you do, then?" persecution?" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Who by?" "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and already referred to. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "What is it?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess rat could hardly pass through." good for you to do.' knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed unkempt, staring out at me. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "ARAT," I read. his huge brown hands. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have whether it answered to the description of any of their and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Ah!" observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black which should have the effect of calling the attention of the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the discontent upon his features. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to ways including including checks, online payments and credit card and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to showing my impatience. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that child?' Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." is acting for the best. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united read over the extraordinary announcement. "But I have heard all that you have heard." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were thin, with a long, sharp nose?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Ha! you find it so?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Pray do so." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. with her." what I may call a really hard day's work." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I