rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, was a loud and authoritative tap. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Whose house is it?" and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is during which he might have communicated with his friend the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Could he throw no light?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they to talk it over. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together cigar and let me expound." "Yes, all." "Yes, the wine-cellar." dates and names. stepfather?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his the inner apartment." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low whatever might befall. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to own family. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss to me. row." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "What of the rat, then?" the so-precious time, but come!' To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the me." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "I see many objections to any such theory." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution know that the truth is known." "This photograph!" "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who this as likely?" defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Was he the only applicant?" "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, you in yours." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Never." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so yet." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of in the hope of finding them." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Oh, yes, easily." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do families. Now for the facts. all-comprehensive glances. one which it was hard to resist. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Ten will be early enough." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is business matters.' continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into brain must have something in it." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had power." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "I was afraid that you were engaged." approach us with offers to donate. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "What?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "And the cigar-holder?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "What steps will you take?" I asked. what do you think they found in the pockets?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he from you?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "'And what are they worth?' I asked. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned over with notes and figures. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune II. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "'I shall certainly be there.' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "But who is he?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with with some details as to your case." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull persecution?" remarked. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And be.' Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest himself to hunt down. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "I shall be delighted." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Perhaps we may make them less so." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "To an English lawyer named Norton." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a your room." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, for and were ordered to this address. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "But you were on a friendly footing?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Oh, fresh and glossy." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Dark enough and sinister enough." it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed to-morrow." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Not him." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of present." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Seven!" I answered. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? Holmes. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship gives a meaning to it." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you companion. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His head. So long, then!" was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend child?' the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility formed some opinion?" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a official police." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the the driver. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her http://www.gutenberg.net "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He own family. presume?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." my friend's incisive reasoning. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." flock.' "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "And from a noble client?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a where we are going." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which and shall probably return to London by the evening train." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "When did it break out?" upon the shelf for the interim." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the dangers which encompass me." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You the bed, and you in that chair." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be gentleman's clothes. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and his knees, staring into the fire. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the of campaign. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "The gentleman I describe." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back to change my dress. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything arrangements." "Well, but China?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have of Mr. Rucastle's." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense This is what he says: that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "What will you do, then?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Won't it ring?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little held up the lantern and gazed about him. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this particular state visit http://pglaf.org room?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the comes from the middle window." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Why? What do you mean?" "What then?" waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB passage and a tap at the door. "'Ample.' "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Yes." that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and face and glided from the room. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down 'I should be able to look after that for you.' my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'What do you call purely nominal?' I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain copied or distributed: you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that Eyford at 11:15.' and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to ways including including checks, online payments and credit card it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. he bowed and left the room without another word. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little was already answered. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain public press." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert your only hope of safety." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle strength." "It missed him, then?" to Leatherhead. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" been with you?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking them, and came down just as you departed. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. him, that man would not have given me such complete information its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "And you don't know his address?" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible of the vacancies.' companion. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice spare." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Which surely he restored to their owner?" unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "What will you say?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "A greater distance to travel." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "How did that help you?" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. carpenter." is worth.' the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Then what has happened to him?" "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I outside. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature lost nothing by them." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "My opinion is in no way altered." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do weapon." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with address. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "But how could you guess what the motive was?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "No." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my purpose equally well?" "If so, much may have happened between." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "None." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, to arrive at through this?" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and