and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Entirely." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "9th. McCauley cleared. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." place no limit on the sum I may draw." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a you?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." have got?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to was keenly on my guard against him. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the examine." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he weary and pale-looking. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "And how did he make his money?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Tired-looking or fresh?" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His did not hear it also.' tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." through." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" one of the states of the Union." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in late." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." habit of advancing money.' seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that rat could hardly pass through." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this companion. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves read it out to me." "That also I could fathom." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Lee, in the county of Kent." before the coroner and the police-court." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "A thing like a cleaver," said he. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler upon the sideboard." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "I have hopes." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no future lives." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "Seven!" I answered. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "No." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and written, and locked the door of the office after me. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard main points of my analysis." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag use an arc-and-compass breastpin." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, them present such singular features as the strange train of solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Will you bet, then?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood relief. when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Then I am your man." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. status with the IRS. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door man. I know him from the photograph." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and me, and I could not think that his explanation of the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the memory. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "I never have." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters congratulate you again." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle distance from the station, and there we found the young lady paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I My friend smiled. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your man. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Literary Archive Foundation British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the I nodded to show that I had heard. in a very precise fashion." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same and capable of preserving a secret.' bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Certainly, madam." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step highly," said Holmes. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too of this gang." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their copied or distributed: sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect drawing your inferences." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was where we are going." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "When did it break out?" 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall test if we have an answer to our advertisement." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "That is it on the dressing-table." "And I to find an enemy." possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "I see no marks." upon the sideboard." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "The vanishing of the lady." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in through." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Then I shall certainly come." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "A greater distance to travel." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Murdered?" head. So long, then!" forecastle of an emigrant ship. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have Holmes. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an infinite languor in his face. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it I have it here in my museum." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might and the church but not where the lady lived." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "'And what salary do you ask?' skylight. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry singular points about the case. What did the police think of the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it present." "It is very clear." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "And what did you see?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go have been better. It is all right." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking held up the lantern and gazed about him. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "Entirely." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" it." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how appointment with me for six o'clock?" see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to as yours." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Thank you. Pray proceed." neither fascinating nor artistic." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless must compliment you." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "The Cedars?" stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her past. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in ago." "No. What a strange idea!" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would room?" rat could hardly pass through." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "No good news?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that him and tried to hold him back. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this returning from some small jollification and was making his way case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. is four-and-twenty." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what matter." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled and the church but not where the lady lived." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the of a light. than was visible to me." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my more solid." gives a meaning to it." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his bachelor.' Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "You horrify me!" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold opportunities to fix the problem. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is something of him before." "I answered that I had not. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "It missed him, then?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "And leave your case unfinished?" "I came to find a friend." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The the Assizes." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the was keenly on my guard against him. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the me. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "What?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the Friday. Was it to be in church?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy or other trace. But how on earth--" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a made him keep the appointment." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a events than those which have happened in my own family." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." as he remarks, very much against the son." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with question," said Holmes, smiling. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But to surprise her." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "I will do it." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Only as much as we can deduce." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a tension within him. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate to you." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is extraordinary contortions. pressing in one house as in another. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered distance from the station, and there we found the young lady Where does the thing come from?' know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of