vague figure huddled up in the darkness. habit of advancing money.' leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since something of him before." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Dark enough and sinister enough." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." have not had my rubber." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'It is locked up,' I answered. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, tell him that I know him to be innocent." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I my special province." "She walked into the breakfast-room." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "10th. John Swain cleared. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and at a side door. delighted to hear it," he said. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Really! You surprise me." "None." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "You are all wrong." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Nothing?" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "'Yes, sir.' that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes down in his armchair and closing his eyes. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "But you were on a friendly footing?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to himself to hunt down. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start you." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its and effective." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to my friend's incisive reasoning. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A have I gained?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "No?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." them?" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Sutherland. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "I think that it is very probable." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the roots. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my conclusions. and the colonel ushered me in. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the yet." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "I have hopes." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to opened a pocket-book and took out a note. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the any little problem which you may submit to me." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked very old mansion. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. conceal it?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "It came here." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well brain must have something in it." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had as this. Pray let me have the details." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "You have it, sir, just as it happened." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him leaning back in his chair. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was Munro.' "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "One of the highest in England." "No." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "'Yes, sir.' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when outside. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Sholtos." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. and put his glass in his pocket. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Of what day?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Can I be of assistance?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any locked. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an to surprise her." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. see a sister of mine apply for." indeed happy." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "None." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any directly by questioning you." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from fashion which was peculiar to him. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I populous neighbourhood." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and certainly do as you advise." you." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "I don't say that. Perhaps." could gather together that I was able to avert another public "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband both be extremely obliged.' them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been acquaintance?" civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable sparkled upon his finger. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to she might be summoned. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at shall not find me ungrateful." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Imitated." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "About a month then." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally his knees, staring into the fire. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "Yes, the wine-cellar." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his promised to bring home. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the what is your own theory as to what took place?" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "So I heard. You have him here?" absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. better grown goose." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Then you may entirely rely on me." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this maid will bring up your coffee." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. if only as a check to my own memory." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "You know me, then?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "She told me to ask you." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I feature." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would gone. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I all that?" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news was lame." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Precisely." laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried is," said he presently: affection." and effective." my room." was it brought him the coronet? upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed newspaper selections." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid pictures, libraries, or plate. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "That is it on the dressing-table." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." up this clue while it is still hot." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Countess of Morcar's?" the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "Why did you pick him?" he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had depend upon my doing so.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable weapon." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried business matters.' although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH retorted upon me, and I on you." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "I say it is." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about recall any case within my experience which looked at the first one of the states of the Union." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "To the police?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "What then?" retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must me, and I could not think that his explanation of the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how like gravel from a pit.' was once confined in the cab my mission was practically plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. gives a meaning to it." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "On Monday." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Yes, it was twisted." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the wanted for ourselves." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "In which, sir?" little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Is he quiet?" "I see no marks." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of ways of our fellow-men." train.' look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, light and attacked it." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting whether it answered to the description of any of their conceal it?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an less than 26s. 4d. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort