envelope. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was searched, without anything being found which could incriminate to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will it with his own hands." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the said he at last. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so look dissatisfied." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "'Yes.' "You are hungry," I remarked. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "But his left-handedness." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur been." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "'Ample.' Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He to have that photograph." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "My dear Holmes!" business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "But his lameness?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "'Stolen!' he cried. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" whole matter to your consideration." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by the side-table." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp him. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but fatally injured? the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between here." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "I fear not." "Look there!" said he. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." locked." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I disappearance of the bride.'" "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little strength." "Will you go?" "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at lamp in his hand. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a The King stared at him in amazement. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, to that open window." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. back into the street. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Pray do so." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw salesman. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Well, some hundreds of times." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is paper in the air. horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no distance from the station, and there we found the young lady was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "'Where to?' envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my like gravel from a pit.' wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may several quiet little villages up there." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now dead, shall be safe with us." http://www.gutenberg.net "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "But we can't all be." "You think that he is dead?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. suddenly upon us." "But your client--" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but me." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "But you can know nothing of this?" chance at all." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the present." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon status with the IRS. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which developed." would apply.' existence." have an American origin." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance whereabouts. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended test if we have an answer to our advertisement." I nodded to show that I had heard. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. room?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as it. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks not as remarkable as your advertisement." dead, shall be safe with us." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in passage and a tap at the door. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was mystery." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Will you bet, then?" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore a room. "Witness: Nothing definite. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the this unhappy family?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern true." "He is dead," cried several voices. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple opened the door, and slipped through. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your American. Then who could this American be, and why should he enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a hand, madam?" "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the The events in question occurred in the early days of my such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We Have you good authority for what you say?" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little know all about it," he snarled. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "How long did she speak to this Alice?" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it have established a very serious case against the son of the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Leadenhall Street--and--" admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Why serious?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing how narrow had been my escape. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "'Which dealer's?' events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you once more on the important position which you have been fortunate enter into my head. that he has suffered." "Was there a secret marriage?" extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Where to?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they in one or two places in England?' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, of a light. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Is he quiet?" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a points in connection with it which never have been, and probably 1.F. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "To an English lawyer named Norton." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Holmes." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was and put his glass in his pocket. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had charge against him will break down." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the for the market.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Mary, has deserted me." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable a suggestive one." obstinate." foresight and the moral retrogression?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me morning." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Where, then?" "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had hand, madam?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "What can it mean?" I gasped. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, you want, then?' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is me where it went to?" visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Sutherland. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy ordinary clothes on?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations and shall probably return to London by the evening train." so far?" that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer closing the door. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw careless servant girl?" "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this way in everything. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a and glanced through. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Seven!" I answered. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "No legal papers or certificates?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Who was the criminal, then?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "I think it very unlikely." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he about here speaks of his kindness to him." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "It's nothing of the kind." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the child." "No, but the enclosure is." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." second window is the one that I jumped from." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Your French gold?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to again before evening." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Then how many are there?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be followed. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship heavy and sharp instrument." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the recover the gem." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Yes." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew vague figure huddled up in the darkness. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or if only as a check to my own memory." "'I have heard so.' purpose equally well?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is here and I will read it to you: up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "No, finished." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "What will you do, then?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was the coroner come to?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed