a little more before I quite committed myself. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own in darkness. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "My stepfather's business papers." "My stepfather's business papers." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. to surprise her." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "BALLARAT." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "At the wedding breakfast." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the hurried by. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I assist you in forming an opinion." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg experiences." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. question," said Holmes, smiling. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." corner of the building. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which out." Chief Executive and Director mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have directly by questioning you." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. some terrible trap for her." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a appointment with me for six o'clock?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the so-precious time, but come!' which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "You did not overhear what they said?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are room. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Yes, sir." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking This is what he says: "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man all?" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "And the murderer?" "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment arms and began to sob in a high treble key. he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond easy-going way." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is Again Holmes raved in the air. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I cigars in the box." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that a few minutes he said that it would be all right. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some weary and pale-looking. lamp. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "But of what society?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project kindly on the shoulder. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray absorbing." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said tear off another piece?' was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or is worth.' article?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Yes. He waved his hands." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a prepare for the new role I have to play." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Did he not advertise?" some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens in a very precise fashion." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my look dissatisfied." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the wife's character?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "'What do you call purely nominal?' gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the morning." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it was keenly on my guard against him. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, License. You must require such a user to return or "And the murderer?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "'Oh, no.' said I. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt yourselves in at night?" feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said of the one which your family is now devouring." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. which it had come upon my father." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is and wait." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It that he has suffered." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Was there a secret marriage?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "A thing like a cleaver," said he. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined quick march!" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "I have seen the police." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my something of him before." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet like gravel from a pit.' "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are all-comprehensive glances. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "You are certainly joking, Holmes." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that at my own good fortune. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "I shall most certainly do so." "Where, indeed?" sound at heart." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is might help us?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." What do you deduce from it?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this that threaten you." second window is the one that I jumped from." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "That is also quite modern," said the lady. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "My opinion is in no way altered." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out a little more before I quite committed myself. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's indiscretion." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Thank you. And your address?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too the child." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "About a month then." "How did he come?" corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, purpose of examination. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did the iron safe, which he closed upon it. vanished into the darkness. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered intrusion of other matters." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all better in every way that they should make their position a little "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "What, then, did Peterson do?" signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I started for the Temple to see my husband. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, any more." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said could go. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it strength in the others." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE notes," he said. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "'Yes, sir.' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of her also." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we secret." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for shoulder. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." said I. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "'Ten to two.' call for it in person on Monday morning.' "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the closely." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything to-night." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "The gentleman I describe." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything in this way: child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "Not I." "I am all attention, madam." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name sparkled upon his finger. papers." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is goes." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out definite end. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "The Cedars?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall beyond words. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "My opinion is in no way altered." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I have seen the police." round and wave him away like that.' bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a telegram would bring me down to your help." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they looking up at the numbers of the houses." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Very murderous indeed." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few your co-operation." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the King without delay." burst out into a roar of laughter. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Yes." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "'I shall certainly be there.' at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Young McCarthy must be got off, however." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my gone. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this your room." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. deduce something from that?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a window when the police appeared." himself. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I of Mr. Rucastle's." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the King without delay."