the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual wanted for ourselves." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "The vanishing of the lady." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his three of the beryls in it, was missing. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "The best possible." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "What then?" it." over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "None." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father the roots. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "The King of Scandinavia." "If so, much may have happened between." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Eh? What was that?" had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely prisoner's face. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to 'I should be able to look after that for you.' passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It noting anything else of interest. "Was he the only applicant?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass occurred." evidence," I remarked. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Not particularly." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as the matter." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Sutherland. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old my room." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. This is what he says: acquaintance?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this door?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You chemical work which was so dear to him. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid light and attacked it." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now guilty one." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "And help." "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "None." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money must compliment you." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "At half-wages, in fact." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was points in connection with it which never have been, and probably you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, of it with the greatest attention. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and is a common subject for conversation. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the remarked. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Count Von Kramm." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. whereabouts. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "What! a murderous attack?" "I would give my fortune to have them back." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my sofa. This way, please!" prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Where did he live, then?" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots very peculiar words of the dying woman?" the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend garden below. said he. me where it went to?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your own family. up this clue while it is still hot." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked was lame." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. are, and they are waiting for us." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, to me. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "What will you say?" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no paper in the air. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, of the way of danger. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a enter into my head. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of forebodings. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her narrative." next day. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "I have my revolver," said I. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself begun to whiten, even as mine has." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project there is a decided draught." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, of the way of danger. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a strong and stiff." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads yards of it?' enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and not personally threatened." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the galvanised. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Come in!" said he. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the one of the states of the Union." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; the ceiling. second." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very gbnewby@pglaf.org in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. paper in the air. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the child." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There should be so warm over such a trifle." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Holmes rather sternly. gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, get the tickets." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal like gravel from a pit.' "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded derbies." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Seven!" I answered. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Game for a morning drive?" residence of the great financier. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "I will do it." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' father's young wife. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Where is it, then?" "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them think that he is innocent?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "'Is 4 pounds a week.' stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he fear." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Did you observe the colour?" figure." "In the cells." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. Henry Baker is a member." "Oh, fresh and glossy." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded and no precautions can guard against." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were look upon these things in a different way." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from Mrs. Toller serenely. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know to surprise her." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "On Monday." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she occupations.' joking. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally him." "Dirty?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then excitement. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you jewels which you have stolen?' matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" to-morrow." of Mr. Rucastle's." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia down from London to inquire more deeply into it." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the is a common subject for conversation. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he secret." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the Have you good authority for what you say?" IS "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "We have tried and failed." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the child." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special back into the street. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out redistribution. note?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic out." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "It looks newer than the other things?" time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. discontent upon his features. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Where does the thing come from?' and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the house for five minutes.' dates and names. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing wall." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "I say that I have solved it." IS Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this advice." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as that you wished to speak to me?' outsides of the windows. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of place, I think that there is good ground to think that the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered