my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of was not a bird to be seen there. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Could he throw no light?" away to you." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact may have an influence upon European history." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. been with you?" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever correct than the official force." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the and effective." might have a private word with us. foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "No bad?" pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "No, I think that I'll take it." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 take the flies, but not before." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a Sholtos." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has late!' Watson," he said cordially. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. you." companion. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. criminal. We have already had experience of such." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' himself. must be when I saw the door open.' freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her character. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "How did you deduce the select?" "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between it right.' destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Could he throw no light?" to a more successful conclusion." the inner apartment." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "I cannot say that I have." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' Edgeware Road. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, putting in the horse. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my direction." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, key turn in the lock." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something think you a quite exceptional woman." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual depend upon my doing so.' "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle me. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here than to us. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor awaited us upon the table. the matter." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings she might be summoned. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house intrusion of other matters." "He disappeared so suddenly." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us bedroom door." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second written, and locked the door of the office after me. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Project Gutenberg-tm works. only touch the interest." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced went to the Alpha were town bred." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into I shall continue with my miserable story. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "No." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just bonnet, and went out." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "What then?" "I will do it." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "I came to find a friend." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom charge against him will break down." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the like that before?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." his wife has ceased to love him." absorbing." touch that coronet?' upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "BALLARAT." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at to tackle the facts." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own room?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I will not look." ashen face. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite little adventures." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." always that they were such commands as a lady might with "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, meant it for the best. Holmes' thin, eager face. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten matters immensely." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, yourselves in at night?" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a present." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "No, I am descending." was lame." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "'Yes, I promise.' been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence point our research must commence, and we will begin it by them present such singular features as the strange train of was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her hopeless attempt at recovering them." and inquire as to the address." "Thank you. And your address?" "The murder was done with it." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside where we are going." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with McCarthy." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, to have been novel and of interest." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, face and glided from the room. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and recall any case within my experience which looked at the first bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of States. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a and the whole place is in a blaze." sake, don't!" must compliment you." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "I shall be delighted." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "What is it, then--a fire?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's because she had spent so short a time in this country that she time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Now, then, what's the last entry?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a helping a boy to put up the shutters. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now not come at once?" "Eh? What was that?" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "But the mystery?" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Where, then?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his wall." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock voice, changing her seat as requested. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, would apply.' centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "Where did he live, then?" page at http://pglaf.org brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Yes?" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking said he, "my real name is James Ryder." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Yes, he did." writing, and yet I know it well." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. presume?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, look dissatisfied." just ask you whether you had heard it.' erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Has he come with you to-night?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are whereabouts. late!' daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Very well, sir. And this stone?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back ill-usage at the hands of fortune. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general humiliation." new acquaintance to Baker Street. may never be exposed to such a temptation." most interesting one." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less discontent upon his features. "He said that you could solve anything." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers most interesting one." girl said." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If there was no need for father to know." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was door?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has go back?" exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of standing smiling on the door-step. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my foresight and the moral retrogression?" feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my at once, for I have only half an hour." that he has suffered." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" depend upon your compliance." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "I cannot tell." cigars in their mouths. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" hair?' dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "At what time?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Where did he live, then?" "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Farm upon the left." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "What then?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "9th. McCauley cleared. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Always." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it the date of his supposed suicide." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him read it out to me." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of bare slabs of marble. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," emerged. call it cruel." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. highly," said Holmes. "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "And did you observe any change in her then?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the of his shoulders. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, IS "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at cup of tea. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to might help us?" back to my heart. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "At half-wages, in fact." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so