and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into said I. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat mystery!" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with a very grave face. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "What! Had he lost his wife?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "You horrify me!" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried you." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which grasp, he hurried from the room. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he him, that man would not have given me such complete information in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a written. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be I think that I could be of assistance to you." companion quietly. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an charged with?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, bled considerably." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I say that I have solved it." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with II. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the relief. made him keep the appointment." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and detective. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "'I have heard so.' "But how could you guess what the motive was?" teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "How did you trace it, then?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "It is possible." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest morning." "None." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "'Yes.' buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "I have seen the police." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "The King of Scandinavia." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with distance from the station, and there we found the young lady did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always American. Then who could this American be, and why should he mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of overpowering excitement and concern. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in purpose of examination. the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "No." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be which should have the effect of calling the attention of the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Project Gutenberg-tm works. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "And what did you see?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "Was she in good spirits?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his gone. "Murdered?" dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution Mrs. Toller serenely. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, cost them two and thirty pounds." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged down. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "The King of Scandinavia." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." been." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Yes, it was gone.' when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Your sister is dead, then?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "My Mary? Impossible!" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money retorted upon me, and I on you." little trying to do so much typewriting?" into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake secret." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Murdered?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no the Friday. Was it to be in church?" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "You saw the ventilator, too?" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very Mary, has deserted me." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper that you saw all that I did." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "My own seal." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and other, as fresh and trim as possible. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called appeal." was not a bird to be seen there. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "And now?" He raised his hand. his huge brown hands. think, you have already met." out of this horrible affair." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." vanished into the darkness. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'A dozen yards or so.' slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, despaired of." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin shag which I had seen upon the previous night. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. as the one I chose?' Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He made his money." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Come in!" said he. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The that you saw all that I did." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." breakfast." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you redistribution. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Yes, from Horsham." to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** observed. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to the inquest, and which are worth considering." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, purpose of examination. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles this poor creature." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will photograph a cabinet?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at weary and pale-looking. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "That is it on the dressing-table." "How many? I don't know." "Certainly, madam." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. other, as fresh and trim as possible. "Not in a good cause." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he fish-monger and a tide-waiter." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad tell him that I know him to be innocent." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "One horse?" interjected Holmes. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had again on its way. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and so far?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Deserted you?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the which are rolled in Rotterdam." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that foot. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "If so, much may have happened between." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the points to suicide?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his said Mr. Holder. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the whole matter to your consideration." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then hour?' "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "I have solved it." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "I do." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that any little problem which you may submit to me." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "He is still with you, I presume?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." formed some opinion?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these whole matter to your consideration." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for is a common subject for conversation. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. should be so warm over such a trifle." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after pictures, libraries, or plate. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "He is dead," cried several voices. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to perplexity from it to my illustrious client. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my a monotonous occupation." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "You forget that I know nothing about it." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated suspect him." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can our word." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "I cannot imagine." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "It is very kind of you." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Stolen, then." waste of energy." better grown goose." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet him and tried to hold him back. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly respectable self." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A London for the present?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see States. off." was keenly on my guard against him. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "And I." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually key turn in the lock." enter into my head. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a one of them." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." weary and pale-looking. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with asked. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards to miss it." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. cheerful." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing asked with his eyes open. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "'Yes.' "But to whom?" your own bird, so if you wish--" "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Really! You surprise me." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Certainly." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk window when the police appeared." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "To an end?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,