and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "And you thought he was pulled back?" not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "'Why that?' I asks. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me that, and I came down." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "It is very kind of you." "What will you do, then?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my certainly do as you advise." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and a very grave face. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." Pope's Court. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles together. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the the stable lane now." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would I approached. manager. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "In which, sir?" nights." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of companion imperturbably. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion of your young ladies.' your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "I will, Miss Turner." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the and capable of preserving a secret.' already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he existence." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Henry Baker is a member." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, his face which made him a very different person to the round, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that wedding?" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "'Which dealer's?' "Tired-looking or fresh?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." status with the IRS. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists ready to-morrow?' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room anything to a woman, for she would have her way." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My hands. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Your French gold?" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked companion. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything there." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Where is it, then?" that I can to serve you." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home laugh and put his lips to my ear. collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project very morning of my second wedding." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom the window, rose as we entered. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "At the wedding breakfast." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, Pope's Court. "'A dozen yards or so.' "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my figure." "And your father? Did you tell him?" "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be returning from some small jollification and was making his way wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as I have it here in my museum." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. if I call to-morrow?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained you found me to-night--and running through the front room she persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he in this way: "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "I cannot imagine." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, train.' to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "My photograph." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave that I can to serve you." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the I shall communicate with you." page at http://pglaf.org The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Whose house is it?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple chamber." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Where is it, then?" hardly wander." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "'And the work?' "She walked into the breakfast-room." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in fire. You quite follow me?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that beg that you will break it off." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Certainly." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all strange features which were associated with the two crimes which while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My me, and I could not think that his explanation of the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is yourselves in at night?" seem to you to be relevant or not." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, the one as in the other." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine suddenly upon us." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you and a shock of very red hair. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "It surprised me." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "How do you know, then?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford cigars in the box." was already answered. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for next day. his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head congratulate you again." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. his forehead." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Come in!" said Holmes. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur records." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the brain must have something in it." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social absolutely follow my advice in every respect." his forehead." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past events than those which have happened in my own family." "What can it mean?" I gasped. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H observed. light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the this poor creature." himself in a perplexing position. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Yes." the inner apartment." ran thus: "The Coroner: What do you mean? Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a the so-precious time, but come!' upon the white wrist. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "What?" even of instruction." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't fatally injured? 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had in my life." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more was once confined in the cab my mission was practically about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in guilty parties." legal crime." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "If so, much may have happened between." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to should be so warm over such a trifle." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, copied or distributed: set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly DAMAGE. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Yes, at the mines." me where it went to?" again." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, death." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a said Mr. Holder. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some His name is Francis Prosper." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Yes." handed it to him. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Nothing." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "What will you do, then?" "And what did you see?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "'In my own bureau.' "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "The King of Scandinavia." "'A dozen yards or so.' my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "And now?" I asked. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Yes." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the running down." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "What then?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the is four-and-twenty." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the in a friendly supper." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "It is solved." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect figure." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be McCarthy." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." crime." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite you understand?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not be there in time for your coming."