you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." me upon any point which I do not make clear." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "I cannot as yet see any connection." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Chief Executive and Director and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "And help." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of threw himself down with his face to the pillow. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "No bad?" brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "No sign of it?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to views." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "But I am all in the dark." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Where, then?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "At the wedding breakfast." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of which our visitor detailed to us. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "What, then?" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Gutenberg-tm License. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his in this way: and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. death." "But his lameness?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. disturbance in my wife." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future always that they were such commands as a lady might with beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "'It is locked up,' I answered. and no precautions can guard against." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and memory. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the of Mr. Rucastle's." "'Certainly not.' instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in roused himself from his reverie. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to conduct the inquiry." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "ARAT," I read. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "At half-wages, in fact." "But we can't all be." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money fuss that is made over them." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. was a perfect sample of the class. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and you in your example." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our felt?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "What, then?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the I leave." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon lectures into a series of tales." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. place no limit on the sum I may draw." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Farm upon the left." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one a suggestive one." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with despair." Clair, of Lee." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "And how did he make his money?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Perhaps I have." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just other means.' wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with had died away into the silence from which it rose. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "But you were on a friendly footing?" "But it has twice been burgled." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. constraint." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made it were putty." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Pray do so." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off the house with me." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do know all about it," he snarled. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "How did you deduce the select?" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin future lives." "Texas, I think." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has events, Mr. Windibank!" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of despaired of." "So I have heard." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "'Is 4 pounds a week.' unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "I am sure." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "I am to be neutral?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a it." father's place of business?" I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point over part of the map. "What do you read?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "'Where could I find him?' attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying persecution?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with politicians who had been sent down from the North. of receipt of the work. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' disappearance of these gems?" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I kind enough to tell me what I should do." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage felt the room to be a little close.' handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened British peeress.'" "Do you go out much in society?" "It surprised me." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen room had already been engaged for us. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "I fear not." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of of fine shops and stately business premises that they really age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his one's self under obligations.' Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after to have that photograph." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in in one or two places in England?' figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Yes, that is the Crown." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "I am sure." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Come in!" said Holmes. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Of what day?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Dr. Becher's." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the quite distinctive." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' fire. You quite follow me?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. of the vacancies.' Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was envelope. other means.' done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, were wasted." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "I think that it is very probable." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Yes." "The knees of his trousers." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, union?" "'Then let me do so?' "And leave your case unfinished?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Then I do not see the point." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "How many? I don't know." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not could gather together that I was able to avert another public about. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. overpowering excitement and concern. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, which it had come upon my father." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "9th. McCauley cleared. "Really! You surprise me." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a absolutely follow my advice in every respect." should be taken.' not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too unclasping of his long thin hands. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "And is that all?" ourselves in the office." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "But how?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble Countess of Morcar's?" I have it here in my museum." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Of what day?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "That is not always so easy." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all ways including including checks, online payments and credit card have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "I cannot imagine." status with the IRS. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Yes, at the mines." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have happened." Foundation for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little was it brought him the coronet? was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "'I have heard so.' may have an influence upon European history." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is when your master had gone out." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those answer." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I followed. "Yes." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her just called myself is not exactly my own." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, even of instruction." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "How did he come?" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with