took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Of what day?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon where Mr. Fordham shows you.' a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his voice. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery several quiet little villages up there." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was crime." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his three fields round his house, and there he would take his had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "'About the same.' "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "What then?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. My friend smiled. "Yes." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at 1.F. you for a few hours?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the photograph?" to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the persecution?" "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or coroner's jury." "Her father is very rich?" cup of tea. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "No more words. Get out!" elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "We must have a cab." crime." "Come in!" said Holmes. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work his cane at the bell-pull. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Stolen, then." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. colonel looking down at me. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His directors, with the result that you have seen." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was conceal it?" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I fear not." instituted." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Why? What do you mean?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis certainly do as you advise." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable returned to France?" this truth that in these little records of our cases which you I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable to his chemical studies. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea in my life." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do other lovers by making love himself." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a true." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope awaited us upon the table. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Yes." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Yes." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "'What then?' I asked. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his comes from the middle window." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "And you don't know his address?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. events, Mr. Windibank!" him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I the coronet at all injured?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "I would pay ten." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a served to weaken the effect. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "And I." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "How do you know, then?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to maiden herself was most instructive." and inquire as to the address." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "How did he come?" was used.' had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "'As governess?' "It surprised me." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the pressing in one house as in another. "And how have you succeeded?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself written, and locked the door of the office after me. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up and the colonel ushered me in. obstinate." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Yes." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "I know where it is." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands it. the nursery. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is been." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "I never have." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what on in his house." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "But I am all in the dark." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Stoke Moran?" said he. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity mystery!" are windows in it, of course?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will McCarthy's innocence. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "And why?" tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "My dear Holmes!" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass better grown goose." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Did you become engaged then?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To constraint." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a business at Coburg Square is serious." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. becomes even more simple." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who strange features which were associated with the two crimes which While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the been able to understand it, in a very few words. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful awkward doing business with an alias." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and II. "Precisely." ago." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the better in every way that they should make their position a little done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm visitors." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I go back?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "But to whom?" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary invisible to me," I remarked. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened front of me. instituted." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" know what is wrong with it.' to-morrow." never came back." "Very truly yours, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Pope's Court. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Her father is very rich?" before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Could he throw no light?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Who by?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of situation." "I will try. What is it?" stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly some city in a dream. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white awaited us upon the table. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. was a perfect sample of the class. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "No, my brougham is waiting." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "My Mary? Impossible!" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "He might." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I nothing of it?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' like gravel from a pit.' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had there." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Dr. Becher's." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize wedding?" met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Not him." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached question," said Holmes, smiling. absorbing." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "In the cells." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's fled together." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Well, but China?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." late." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were you understand?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "No legal papers or certificates?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Well, some hundreds of times." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the remarked. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the him!" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom particular state visit http://pglaf.org clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Mary, has deserted me." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main felt the room to be a little close.' rooms." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Certainly." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, upon the sideboard." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "BALLARAT." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would clanging. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Quite so." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer man. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. you." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "In answer to an advertisement." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about question. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free I have it here in my museum." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "No." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." bonnet, and went out." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Sholtos." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for Eyford at 11:15.' customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have himself to tell his story. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "'I shall certainly be there.' But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the indeed happy."