"I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give Lee, in the county of Kent." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "And how did you find out?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Then I do not see the point." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I open." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his shoulder. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "How about poison?" your bag." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should frequently gained my first real insight into the character of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "To the police?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended noise which awoke you from your sleep?" than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "'Yes.' "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our suspect him." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters said he at last. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "In heaven's name, what for?" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of go from here to the Strand." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but the window, rose as we entered. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope sooner or later she must fall a victim. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the prison!" particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I flock.' size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Where did you address your letters, then?" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of remarked. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Did your wife hear all this?" Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never all?" "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "That sounds a little paradoxical." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and have an American origin." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, I shall continue with my miserable story. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, said he. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, be best to do. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "So I am. Very much so." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." have got?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have again before evening." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "You think so, too?" a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which extraordinary contortions. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from promised to bring home. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the little opening for the ventilator is." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, look dissatisfied." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor these bleak autumnal evenings." "The doctor?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of back to my heart. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "No. What a strange idea!" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police our word." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your here." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Pray be precise as to details," said he. public press." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which coat-tails." other lovers by making love himself." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far presented more singular features than that which was associated sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. passage and a tap at the door. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely sparkled upon his finger. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for security.' "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the done what I asked you, Jones?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I as the one I chose?' in darkness. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "I will get her to show me." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than him to go away.' power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back said I. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "'Is purely nominal.' neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner would apply.' there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Was your sister dressed?" "But it has twice been burgled." clang of the bell. "How about poison?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be round and wave him away like that.' characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but empty. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "How did you deduce the select?" "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you wedding?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Upon what point?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in stepfather?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "Precisely so. But how--" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Does that suggest anything?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it of campaign. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have man. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." them present such singular features as the strange train of nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not there were one or two details which were new to me. But the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front and wait." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over you." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "But she will refuse." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is most important business. It is probable that he will be away all dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted than to us. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he to take care of herself." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Come in!" said he. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the electronic works chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying she used." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was not within a twentieth part of the market price." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with cigar and let me expound." "My private note-paper." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. footfalls from the street. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see that?' exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." married her." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking DAMAGE. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." in this note: deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of upon an income of about 60 pounds." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, his wife has ceased to love him." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." trifles." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and used to be." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "And did you observe any change in her then?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was hour." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he undoubtedly my uncle's." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold next day. "I assure you that I am in your hands." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a fluttered off among the others. "No." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Then I can wait in the next room." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet without a word or a look. idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Certainly." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Entirely." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, least a most suspicious remark." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for minor matters until to-morrow." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "I cannot tell." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in upon the white wrist. fat-encircled eyes. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one the house with me." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable London for the present?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that derbies." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "And now?" I asked. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "This concluded the examination of the witness." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a this as likely?" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Yes, it was twisted." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the would apply.' for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced me have 200 pounds?' Literary Archive Foundation quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Pray continue your narrative." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Very murderous indeed." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. we went to search for him, face downward in a little When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "It is a murder, then?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "What is it?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Your sister is dead, then?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "But of what society?" my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked.