overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Tired-looking or fresh?" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are It may be so in this case, also." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Yes, sir." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; few hundred pounds.' up this clue while it is still hot." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other once more on the important position which you have been fortunate higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me thought that she would have been so carried away." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Of what?" call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Will you go?" headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons one which it was hard to resist. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the house with me." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by is so. I know all about McCarthy." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I some place of shelter and let the county police know what has chill to my heart. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to me upon any point which I do not make clear." "It surprised me." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "And I to find an enemy." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." rooms." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its forebodings. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "'And the work?' of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come feature." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest to-night?" I asked. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and leaning back in his chair. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she roused himself from his reverie. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more matters immensely." papers on the sundial.'" "My photograph." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should results." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to written. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap will he say when he returns?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "And from a noble client?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, detained." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "What office?" "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was whereabouts. point in the dark hollow of his hand. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a eavesdroppers?' chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' not, dad?" she asked. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Where, then?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the was shining brightly. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on enter Dr. Roylott's room." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a may have an influence upon European history." the little opening for the ventilator is." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Then the page we have seen--" wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was friend's singular character. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of three of the beryls in it, was missing. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of the house with me." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so guilty one." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "I think it very unlikely." suddenly upon us." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was disturbance in my wife." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your that "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in which was all perfectly true. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged purpose of examination. the side-table." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance advice." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised arrangements." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon could not account in any way for the presence of the missing he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Yes, at the mines." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "It is possible." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Sholtos." "A greater distance to travel." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a suggested at once that there must be a communication between the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I am following you closely," I answered. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should him to go away.' to arrive at through this?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "'Certainly,' I answered. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "My private note-paper." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That Count Von Kramm." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." in. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "How did that help you?" edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "I am to be neutral?" "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from recover the gem." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "It's nothing of the kind." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange This is what he says: "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "You think so, too?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "At what time?" tell him that I know him to be innocent." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "But it has twice been burgled." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "A confidential servant?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I had no one to advise her at such a crisis." I approached. directly by questioning you." "Texas, I think." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this mysterious end." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Yes." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "But you have hopes?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a other means.' premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders will take you up to see the machine.' Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it bearing upon the case." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, papers on the sundial.'" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "You saw the ventilator, too?" Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was like gravel from a pit.' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the ceiling. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding was feeling which was the fattest.' stepfather?" and laid it on the table. http://www.gutenberg.net "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Yes, I have one waiting." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." system of imprisonment?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how of this gang." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have excitement. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" see a sister of mine apply for." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "He is still with you, I presume?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and laid it on the table. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "The doctor?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately problems help me to do so." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the some city in a dream. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the shaken than I had ever seen him. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "No, my brougham is waiting." question," said Holmes, smiling. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER said I. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined wedding?" have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. deduce something from that?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "I guessed as much." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I second." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. husband's writing, madam." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Nothing." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "No, distinctly professional." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project handed it to him. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said and wait." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "I would give my fortune to have them back." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" emerged. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the late." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I are, I think, all that we need." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of definite end. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is will not take me long to tell. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair bird of prey. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "I cannot say that I have." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "In heaven's name, what for?" impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl conduct the inquiry." appeared upon the scene." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "That is unusual in a young girl." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the