I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "BALLARAT." know that the truth is known." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "'Very good.' both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'It is locked up,' I answered. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we like that before?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "By train from Waterloo." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind tell him that I know him to be innocent." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between appeared upon the scene." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside present." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on what do you think they found in the pockets?" in his power. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his and inquire as to the address." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. will not take me long to tell. Holmes rather sternly. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless acted in my house last night?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of that I am arrested." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a directly by questioning you." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "I am in hopes that she does." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her his forehead." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "He might." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Nothing." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "No." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "No more words. Get out!" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. six. Come in!" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Nothing." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Why did you beat the pavement?" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no remarked. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I interests were the same as his." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "No, I think that I'll take it." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the know all about it," he snarled. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to with you?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it giving me time to thank him. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a soul! here is her carriage at the door." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think and glanced through. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual his face which made him a very different person to the round, I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "ARAT," I read. one's self under obligations.' husband's writing, madam." extraordinary contortions. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to union?" elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense a room. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now the room while you explain this matter?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "If so, much may have happened between." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Very truly yours, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "And leave your case unfinished?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, opportunities to fix the problem. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Holmes. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Yes, all." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'Yes, sir.' erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he himself in a perplexing position. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would upon a handsome competence. Farm upon the left." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Yes." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Yes, I have one waiting." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "No bad?" manager. bearing upon the case." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. the Assizes." soul! here is her carriage at the door." and laid it on the table. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and with some details as to your case." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "A call for help, you thought?" morning." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "About a month then." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Absolutely?" place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything pictures, libraries, or plate. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you few hundred pounds.' The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington persecution?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Sutherland. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she passage and a tap at the door. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with subject to the trademark license, especially commercial explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been entirely lost his self-respect." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first in the hope of finding them." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come behind me. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this from the brougham. "Why serious?" to a more successful conclusion." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "In answer to an advertisement." if only as a check to my own memory." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for lamp. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. only touch the interest." at home. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a four million human beings all jostling each other within the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she extraordinary contortions. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, brain must have something in it." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. over with notes and figures. said I. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn of." notes," he said. "Texas, I think." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, she used." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would coat-tails." more terrible than the truth. was a loud and authoritative tap. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." hurried away. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special discontent upon his features. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the fasten all the windows?" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire do.' floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Very truly yours, This is what he says: are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, them present such singular features as the strange train of coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that had died away into the silence from which it rose. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "My photograph." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "And that is--" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I know what is wrong with it.' introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of a very grave face. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." thought that she would have been so carried away." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, client, rising. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something me." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently sake, don't!" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, might have a private word with us. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just fuss that is made over them." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do business in the City. She little knew what. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "None." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" in his hands." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man some city in a dream. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "I don't believe it." Holmes' thin, eager face. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Who by?" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'Yes, I promise.' unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "And why?" and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or front of the hall door has given its name to the place. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "And now?" I asked. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress best detective that ever lived. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and there." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Pray continue your narrative." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a train.' quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, neither fascinating nor artistic." "It surprised me." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security