Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable might help us?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. we went to search for him, face downward in a little he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite never to learn it at all." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too them present such singular features as the strange train of "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your to change my dress. "Certainly." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "If I can be of use." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Never." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you mystery may be cleared along those lines." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a she used." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous absorbing." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "But his lameness?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Certainly." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, strong reason behind." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Holmes' room. "I will get her to show me." "'What, the red-headed man?' coat-tails." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing you in your example." Stoke Moran." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked morning." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "'Never.' and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty examination of the premises, but without finding anything which my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such important." house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his trifles." know that the truth is known." "My private note-paper." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The straighten it?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "I have seen the police." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave unclasping of his long thin hands. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation room?" a monotonous occupation." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that hands. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and was used.' purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "An enemy?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the tragedy. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "What shall I do?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' power." "How do you know, then?" Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "'Yes, it was gone.' the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "He said that you could solve anything." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, answered with a sidelong glance. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" Mary, has deserted me." to have been novel and of interest." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which populous neighbourhood." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. present." time." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to prison!" "What will you do, then?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the knowledge of the world." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "How many? I don't know." "Bought." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Not yet." in this way: We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a how narrow had been my escape. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A with you?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who clanging. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "It was." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "She told me to ask you." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round or in danger--" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had strong and stiff." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a woman who has had her own way to make in the world. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, affair. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster You want to know what became of those geese?" "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "'Yes, sir.' which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper matter." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as your own bird, so if you wish--" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "I would give my fortune to have them back." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never evidence," I remarked. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Where did he live, then?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "How do you know, then?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, the house with me." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "My Mary? Impossible!" "Yes, the wine-cellar." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when the stable lane now." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker helping a boy to put up the shutters. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Cross for the Continent." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Very. But will he see it?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment client, rising. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Well?" the child." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Oh, yes, easily." matter." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they the south-west, I see." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began wall." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its when you have done it." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: place no limit on the sum I may draw." it were putty." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "At half-wages, in fact." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "That also I could fathom." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting as this. Pray let me have the details." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring shall use the carriage to-night." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she was shining brightly. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "On the contrary, this is the right side." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls bearing upon the case." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" ordinary clothes on?" side. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Yes?" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of fait accompli?" been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Street. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." be there in time for your coming." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "There is the writing." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William into the room. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "No." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our you came in." back to my heart. "No." learned something! Where are the gems?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as habit of advancing money.' should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "You know me, then?" "I shall most certainly do so." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my few hundred pounds.' "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across bled considerably." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "How did he come?" an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Won't it ring?" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous eat it." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "On the contrary, this is the right side." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "On the contrary, this is the right side." lost his Christmas dinner." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he and capable of preserving a secret.' particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "'As governess?' Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "'Yes.' fact, we may call it conclusive." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so Lestrade of Scotland Yard." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "No." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard nonsense.' "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There anything to a woman, for she would have her way." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my an introduction to him?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope entirely lost his self-respect." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the salesman. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as maid will bring up your coffee." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." himself to hunt down. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his one which it was hard to resist. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Where to?" "Then, as to money?" is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards awaited us upon the table. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional very old mansion. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features than to us. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to followed. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear presented which may be striking and bizarre without being have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect The King stared at him in amazement. returning from some small jollification and was making his way and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa about here speaks of his kindness to him." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Why, it's a dummy," said he.