reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you your co-operation." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been particular state visit http://pglaf.org ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "What do you mean?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As use an arc-and-compass breastpin." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and clang of the bell. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "A thing like a cleaver," said he. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It our word." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Certainly." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of several quiet little villages up there." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and a suggestive one." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in stalked out of the room. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' other means.' words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "But what will you do?" himself to hunt down. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "An enemy?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Pray do so." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both before the coroner and the police-court." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Where did you address your letters, then?" his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "No, thank goodness, she did not." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses soul! here is her carriage at the door." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the galvanised. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of thirty. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are was shining brightly. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "He said that you could solve anything." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "9th. McCauley cleared. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "The decline of his fortunes, then?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our of the one which your family is now devouring." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Witness: It was. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us them?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but which are rolled in Rotterdam." strength in the others." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Yes." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "How often?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a congenial hunt. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of was used.' nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic you in yours." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Breckinridge is his name." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Married! When?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between The summons was a brief and urgent one. presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions a suggestive one." more terrible than the truth. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel II. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Ha! you find it so?" "And help." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble very peculiar words of the dying woman?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "What can you not understand?" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "By no means." cigars in the box." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Watson," he said cordially. minor matters until to-morrow." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father leaning back in his chair. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an manager. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "You horrify me!" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Where does the thing come from?' pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "What steps will you take?" I asked. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple that I may have something better before very many minutes are sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "I promise," said Holmes. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without from the brougham. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of leaning back in his chair. "I will try. What is it?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. to-night?" I asked. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was posted to-day." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came McCarthy." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "And from a noble client?" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very electronic works of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing hour?' strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and since then to throw any light upon what became of him." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what from the brougham. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the bed, and you in that chair." alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a allusion to a rat. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we in one or two places in England?' he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Holmes' thin, eager face. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very of them has the shutters up.' say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace the coroner come to?" answer." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." your only hope of safety." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said strong and stiff." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. of this gang." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached as this. Pray let me have the details." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Stoke Moran." "A greater distance to travel." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said since then to throw any light upon what became of him." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody foresight and the moral retrogression?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and said I. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our letters?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, learned something! Where are the gems?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had said I. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was upon an income of about 60 pounds." "And your mother is alive?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. villagers almost as much as their master. not within a twentieth part of the market price." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Precisely." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for derbies." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "I say it is." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I front of me. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and what these perils are?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Yes, at the mines." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and disturbance in my wife." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project examine." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, became a certainty. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." cause to be." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the galvanised. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Witness: Nothing definite. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the when your master had gone out." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of had picked up in the wood. "And you don't know his address?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "What then?" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "I will try. What is it?" even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "You horrify me!" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 prepare for the new role I have to play." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his cost them two and thirty pounds." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, humiliation." "But of what society?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "No." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a constraint." pictures, libraries, or plate. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that companion. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly kind enough to tell me what I should do." assist you in forming an opinion." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, pound a week." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." him!" time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no never came back." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken this as likely?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing believe that I should never have any practice at all. Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. face and glided from the room. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in strode off upon his way. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Miss Holder?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "'Then let me do so?' I shall continue with my miserable story. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was to some other building. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "You will not go there first?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in been lifted and conveyed somewhere." up this clue while it is still hot." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable in his hands." "Well, it is a possible supposition." page at http://pglaf.org his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a secret." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Farm upon the left." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "And who is her maid?" dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the