this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Frequently." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a cigars in the box." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He morning." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room ourselves in the office." "I know where it is." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were seven miles from Eyford Station.' hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, my little problems." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Indeed! Whose, then?" through." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass was it brought him the coronet? "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a our word." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his interested in these little problems, and since you are good look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Entirely." "Have you her photograph?" starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom Countess of Morcar's?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and but preventing her from injuring another. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. get her out of the way." guilty one." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "And that is--" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, like that before?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "In answer to an advertisement." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "And help." gives a meaning to it." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Then I am your man." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, touch that coronet?' takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Nothing?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute had this final quarrel? "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. excitement. nights." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "10th. John Swain cleared. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of His smile broadened. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. late." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the said I. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "I would give my fortune to have them back." enter into my head. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Yes, he did." back into the street. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you the bottom.' hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her nonsense.' true." promised to bring home. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort amused." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I lamp. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "Yes, but only for you and me." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was written. so far?" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Not yet." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Where, then, is my wife?" "Who was the criminal, then?" thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Yes." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an lost his Christmas dinner." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "I have seen the police." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the and wait." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I she to prove their authenticity?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I locked. garden below. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "But he might be a bachelor." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of points to suicide?" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he other, as fresh and trim as possible. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace colonel looking down at me. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Frequently." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "It came here." "Tired-looking or fresh?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "You saw the ventilator, too?" the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is always that they were such commands as a lady might with by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the matters immensely." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Where did he live, then?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and at my own good fortune. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "I shall be delighted." is acting for the best. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, to Leatherhead. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the the King without delay." "Game for a morning drive?" "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I have I gained?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a fear." Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "There is the writing." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and to take care of herself." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "It is solved." would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle there were so many in the whole country as were brought together it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly more terrible than the truth. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a in one or two places in England?' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Never." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, one which it was hard to resist. voice, changing her seat as requested. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Pray be precise as to details," said he. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I I. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." coroner's jury." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of showing my impatience. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Absolutely?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Munro.' "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Holmes. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed him nearly every evening." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey only touch the interest." that there was nothing in it, after all." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their DAMAGE. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence fact, we may call it conclusive." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. assist you in forming an opinion." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of up this clue while it is still hot." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there over with notes and figures. golden eyeglasses. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Come in!" said Holmes. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was article?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), narrative." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Do you go out much in society?" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'And the work?' electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers about. them, and came down just as you departed. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Yes, it would be as well." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt fishes. highroad, where all traces were lost. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Yes, from Horsham." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in and capable of preserving a secret.' The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He McCarthy's innocence. "Yes, certainly." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." papers diligently of late, have you not?" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "She showed me, as I told you she would." have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a easy-going way." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "It's nothing of the kind." colour had been driven from his face. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. photograph?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step desk. "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman your room." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for I shall communicate with you." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "I cannot tell." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet absolutely follow my advice in every respect." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency one's self under obligations.' advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while sound at heart." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her skylight. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. few hundred pounds.' strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view eat it." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The