"Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "I cannot think." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Quite so." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "But she could not love him." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in as this. Pray let me have the details." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "But how?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "None. Neville wrote those words." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" something of him before." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary and shall probably return to London by the evening train." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own hour?' "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than him nearly every evening." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the weighed down with some great anxiety. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I think it very unlikely." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's exactly what you advise." in this way: "What! Had he lost his wife?" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised to his chemical studies. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered one of the states of the Union." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "None." persecution?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that I shall communicate with you." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to this Miss Turner." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that that?' a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from characteristics, but those are the more obvious." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than not, dad?" she asked. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then letters?" "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Surrey." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a grasp, he hurried from the room. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "What is it, then--a fire?" the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be stepfather?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project was once confined in the cab my mission was practically turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "In the cells." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned as this. Pray let me have the details." my secret was safe in his possession. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. asked. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "It is possible." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing despaired of." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "We were both in the photograph." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my cost them two and thirty pounds." point in the dark hollow of his hand. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a you do it in twenty minutes!' from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' place of silver." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then whether it answered to the description of any of their towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Yes, it would be as well." "Has he come with you to-night?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "And Irene Adler?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "I am all attention, madam." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "You think that he is dead?" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two his eyes and forehead. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn III. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, affair. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Stolen, then." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." think that he is innocent?" skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "What do you mean?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, foot. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms business." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I his face which made him a very different person to the round, before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let passage and a tap at the door. "You will not go there first?" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so of." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its instituted." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Here?" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were III. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. delighted to hear it," he said. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Pool. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Yes, that is the Crown." hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet believe that I should never have any practice at all. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and secret." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and question. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "You will not go there first?" and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, strength in the others." friends, not even his own brother. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK the address that was given us in the advertisement. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Certainly." posted to-day." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "But what harm can there be in that?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. call the police, let the police find what they can.' however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "But to whom?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Yes, it was twisted." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found to take care of herself." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into did not hear it also.' "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to promised to bring home. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be papers." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Can I be of assistance?" astonishment. "Could he throw no light?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was as the one I chose?' observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the generous with you in money matters.' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "And how have you succeeded?" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "The best possible." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "What I expected to see." an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for tightly behind him. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather true." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. meant." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to behind me. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "I think it very unlikely." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "I cannot tell." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "10th. John Swain cleared. words came to my lips. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had derbies." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the your sleep?' "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "I say it is." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the like gravel from a pit.' and no precautions can guard against." as noiselessly as she had come. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been thought that she would have been so carried away." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I that he has suffered." who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." she used." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "How on earth--" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of his wife has ceased to love him." the inquest, and which are worth considering." "When did it break out?" "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at redistribution. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a to some other building. "'Ample.' of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this 1.F. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are and inquire as to the address." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "That sounds a little paradoxical." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought carriage. It was a chestnut." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Project Gutenberg-tm works. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of you want, then?' indeed which he could not unravel. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "That is unusual in a young girl." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew spark where all is dark to me." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence is acting for the best. "No good news?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet your most interesting statement." "You have the photograph?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very one or two very singular points about this room. For example, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Bought." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you deduce something from that?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over and the church but not where the lady lived." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in allusion to a rat. "My dear Holmes!" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "'No, I know no one in these parts.' which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Then how many are there?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "At the wedding breakfast." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to vault. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely