Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 certainly not very gracious." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. said I. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." locked." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Is he quiet?" on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had business." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, happened." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "None. Neville wrote those words." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been of his shoulders. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "What can you not understand?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That meant it for the best. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "I am about to be married." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the was it brought him the coronet? grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "How did you trace it, then?" are, I think, all that we need." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to long narrative. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down made him keep the appointment." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," States. Munro.' "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that should be taken.' station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady you do it in twenty minutes!' knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made present." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so right! Sit down and let us talk it over." was used.' sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads direction." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "I will try. What is it?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of matter." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you o'clock is it?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at up this clue while it is still hot." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "'Entirely.' bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the iron safe, which he closed upon it. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." I think that I could be of assistance to you." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given daring than any effort of the imagination." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing said I. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "But how?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her on in his house." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the over part of the map. "What do you read?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a key of the affair now." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried wedding?" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied shoulder. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "The best possible." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were morning." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Imitated." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" him to be an active member of the medical profession." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "None." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up said he. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Henry Baker is a member." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "By train from Waterloo." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." guilty parties." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Yes, it was twisted." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by in a friendly supper." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I shall most certainly do so." seem to you to be relevant or not." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of married her." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers arrested. You then--" "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I had formerly been in part my own. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of fear." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Have you it here?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior bore every mark of being an average commonplace British hereditary King of Bohemia." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Really! You surprise me." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Who by?" the coronet at all injured?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "We must sit without light. He would see it through the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill voice, changing her seat as requested. writing, and yet I know it well." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." system of imprisonment?" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Where does the thing come from?' "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their one of the states of the Union." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless and glanced through. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all You can understand that this register and diary may implicate crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, http://www.gutenberg.net so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I came to find a friend." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. fasten all the windows?" that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "You horrify me!" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "I cannot tell." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "It is a murder, then?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass reach." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there advice." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have off." said he. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving what these perils are?" note?" step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank the King without delay." have an American origin." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for present." "Tired-looking or fresh?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off awkward doing business with an alias." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Here?" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Dirty?" head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with me where it went to?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it round and wave him away like that.' before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the tragedy. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the general public were present, then?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of will he say when he returns?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "This concluded the examination of the witness." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "His face fell immediately. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "You did not overhear what they said?" morning." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." Again Holmes raved in the air. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in once more to my work. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major hurried by. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white walking." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my the King without delay." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE arrangements." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even more solid." and wait." "I cannot think." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "My dear Holmes!" became a certainty. telegram would bring me down to your help." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous better grown goose." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and pictures, libraries, or plate. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Stolen, then." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily closely." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing returned to France?" voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "A client, then?"