have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next in your London, you will know that the office of the company is was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young annoyance, but no jest. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the next day. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that highroad, where all traces were lost. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get him to go away.' had a long day." yourselves in at night?" to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'Yes, sir.' I held the little printed slip to the light. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "I cannot say that I have." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. that he has suffered." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "The best possible." lips." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few hands. "And the murderer?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need place of silver." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your the Friday. Was it to be in church?" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never into the room. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: quite distinctive." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever the bed, and you in that chair." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "And sit in the dark?" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "From his hat?" darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "But the mystery?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to and it need not interfere very much with one's other the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Who was the criminal, then?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." note?" used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered things are very often connected not with the larger but with the case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Holmes' room. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common appointment with me for six o'clock?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "'There is a drive, then?' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only our word." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl and your relations to her." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself less than 26s. 4d. to that open window." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Did your wife hear all this?" away to you." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the dangers which encompass me." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor hand, madam?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and just called myself is not exactly my own." stood on the top of it. tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Of what day?" at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I think that I had better go, Holmes." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more footfalls from the street. forecastle of an emigrant ship. "To ruin me." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Tired-looking or fresh?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ ventilator." served to weaken the effect. "Very much so." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "And when will you call?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Where did you address your letters, then?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I would then never go into court at all." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white and effective." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. any more." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "I have seen the police." signal between you and your father? "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," carpenter." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we I am not easy in my mind about them." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large married her." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" highly," said Holmes. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money some place of shelter and let the county police know what has was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, lost his Christmas dinner." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "That is not always so easy." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the the general public were present, then?" presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such strength in the others." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement society." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to be.' "Yes. He waved his hands." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as second." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "And for present expenses?" trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone locked. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed evidence," I remarked. digesting their breakfasts at home." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me way: surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "I do." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came details." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from handed it to him. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to to-night's adventure." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I will try. What is it?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was forebodings. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "No good news?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Nothing." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Could he throw no light?" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to here and I will read it to you: heavy and sharp instrument." as he remarks, very much against the son." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Did you observe the colour?" honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, whole matter to your consideration." sound at heart." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to and capable of preserving a secret.' "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Foundation I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had this poor creature." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, ordinary clothes on?" Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the prisoner's face. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither had no one to advise her at such a crisis." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a and your relations to her." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low me what he had done with the three missing stones. bedroom door." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from unprecedented a position." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while about. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring not within a twentieth part of the market price." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "My dear Holmes!" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "And I say east," said my patient. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had eavesdroppers?' make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I key of the affair now." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Pray do so." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would chair. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "'And what salary do you ask?' "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "What is it?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down awaited us upon the table. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "My last client of the sort was a king." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "I cannot think." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "One horse?" interjected Holmes. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of used to be." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the wedding?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." question," said Holmes, smiling. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left look dissatisfied." his eyes and forehead. tension within him. "Yes, that is the Crown." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want or other trace. But how on earth--" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the returned to France?" and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "He said that you could solve anything." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose about. "Your presence might be invaluable." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "What shall I do?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, It may be so in this case, also." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some of receipt of the work. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a one of the states of the Union." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet papers must be those that are destroyed.' condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad despaired of." "He said that you could solve anything." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "And that is--" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "What! You do not mean bodies?" threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Yes, the wine-cellar." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I feature." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "'If you please, Miss Stoper.'