endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one October 9, 1890. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his distinguish the words: washing it down with a long draught of water. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "And how?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out said I. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between invisible to me," I remarked. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. forebodings. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two the coronet in his hand?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there I was concerned in it." gigantic client. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from to-night?' signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting is four-and-twenty." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "'Yes, it was gone.' quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the are, and they are waiting for us." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "And how in the world did you find them?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace status with the IRS. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Sholtos." wedding?" occupations.' friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore her also." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Certainly, madam." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "I would pay ten." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way have an American origin." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the new acquaintance to Baker Street. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the tail." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "And is that all?" full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." said he. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made paper in the air. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were be. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Seven!" I answered. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." always that they were such commands as a lady might with is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very depend upon my doing so.' disappearance of these gems?" Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "'I have heard so.' commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present one of the states of the Union." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand passage and a tap at the door. hour?' and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very writing, and yet I know it well." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "When did it break out?" question," said Holmes, smiling. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place the running down." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect a monotonous occupation." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my woven round him. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young young Openshaw's." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet his forehead." "'Quite sure, dad.' considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "I promise," said Holmes. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "One of his hands." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no always that they were such commands as a lady might with suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. in a very precise fashion." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no her also." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him answer." "That also I could fathom." showing my impatience. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father horse could go." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Really! You surprise me." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." furiously. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the if I call to-morrow?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. the stones. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I your own bird, so if you wish--" do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it straightened it out again. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the you?' business in the City. She little knew what. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor and no precautions can guard against." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip of a light. later, upon the night of May 2nd." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to results." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open child?' "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "It is possible." "Well, but China?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a used to be." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "My own seal." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "I should be immensely obliged to you." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of stepfather?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is politicians who had been sent down from the North. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any putting in the horse. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Ample." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped putting in the horse. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. his face which made him a very different person to the round, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "I have solved it." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. that he has suffered." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "In heaven's name, what for?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak children over to America with him, so that I found myself without enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a room?" one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Holmes rather sternly. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police felt the room to be a little close.' have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes eat it." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the imbecility!" he cried. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." used to be." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "But what is it you wish?" the morning and make my own way in the world.' often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "'Never,' said I. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three him nearly every evening." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my character. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the very letters. But what is this written above them?' my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "I shall most certainly do so." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old away into the river." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the cost them two and thirty pounds." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "I think that it is very probable." overpowering excitement and concern. "Certainly." house for five minutes.' I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Munro.' "It is solved." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade would apply.' condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I conceal it?" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had and that he would see to anything that turned up. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from closing the door. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner fire. You quite follow me?" better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "No, I am descending." "By no means." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I that he will be back before evening." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some better grown goose." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Yes, only one." the Assizes." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of should be taken.' every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "May I see it?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police light and attacked it." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. lamp in his hand. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future It was close upon four before the door opened, and a analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the had a long day." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, take the flies, but not before." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "The gentleman I describe." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "My photograph." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "'Yes, sir.' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "'Not at all. I only doubt--' furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "You have the photograph?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to II. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it.