"Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The standing smiling on the door-step. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing call it cruel." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had get her out of the way." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' depend upon your compliance." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" in the dead of the night?' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put matters immensely." "We were both in the photograph." swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people some water from a caraffe. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert clanging. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Not I." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day rooms." interested in these little problems, and since you are good Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots business in the City. She little knew what. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night detained." written. which our visitor detailed to us. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "I guessed as much." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the in one or two places in England?' it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "'Never,' said I. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could not fit the lock." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "No." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the will be renamed. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "'Yes, it was gone.' "There are none." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a whole matter to your consideration." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Sutherland. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Stolen, then." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and bill, which interests me deeply." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "That is unusual in a young girl." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, against a man in the prime of life?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, light and attacked it." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people strode off upon his way. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. tension within him. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Ha! you find it so?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." do.' with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double vault. "What, then?" glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a have had none more fantastic than this." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "'I have already given you my word.' "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Dark enough and sinister enough." me what he had done with the three missing stones. "To an end?" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded shoulder; "he's all right." intrusion of other matters." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six excitement. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and wedding?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to during that time.' the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a that he will be back before evening." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every learned something! Where are the gems?" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his you?' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? of Fenchurch Street." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "What then?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how skylight. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his and your relations to her." depend upon your compliance." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "But his lameness?" the one as in the other." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "'Ample.' of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off I shall continue with my miserable story. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks straighten it?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I furiously. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the I leave." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very posted to-day." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated weighed down with some great anxiety. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "One of the highest in England." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez your bag." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Witness: Nothing definite. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding started for the Temple to see my husband. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid children over to America with him, so that I found myself without fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came never will be, entirely cleared up. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change opportunities to fix the problem. "The King of Scandinavia." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he is worth.' had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that him to be an active member of the medical profession." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Yes, there are nearly always some there." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I was sure that I might rely on you." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy brain must have something in it." the coroner come to?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his present." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the strength." "That you are never beaten." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced posted to-day." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "What then?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted answer." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "None." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned things are very often connected not with the larger but with the you." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do mystery!" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw you in yours." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go bears upon the case?" "It is very kind of you." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so lids now and glanced across at his visitor. yards of it?' passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a I leave." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Why did you beat the pavement?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "And your mother is alive?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to upon the white wrist. "At the wedding breakfast." matter." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall someone who had been in Australia." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to fact, we may call it conclusive." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon trifles." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was where Mr. Fordham shows you.' look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Yes." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Certainly." his face. "ARAT," I read. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting have had none more fantastic than this." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, Again Holmes raved in the air. where we are going." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Was he the only applicant?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of will not take me long to tell. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of had died away into the silence from which it rose. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "None. Neville wrote those words." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the roots. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure happened." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the Assizes." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "Yes." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, whereabouts. bedroom door." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was have not had my rubber." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "'And what are they worth?' I asked. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt could not account in any way for the presence of the missing drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an one which it was hard to resist. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. bill, which interests me deeply." "She walked into the breakfast-room." "That sounds a little paradoxical." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." night.' said he. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was events than those which have happened in my own family." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." appeal." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom I was concerned in it." standing smiling on the door-step. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the had this final quarrel? "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "I will not look." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Did you observe the colour?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We of it with the greatest attention. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "I should like to see him very much." that I can to serve you." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with his knees, staring into the fire. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in his face. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been grasp, he hurried from the room. the stable lane now." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "You heard nothing yourself last night?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who and a shock of very red hair. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the wedding?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of kindly on the shoulder. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "He is still with you, I presume?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, papers." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up in this note: was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the