nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "My private note-paper." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that of receipt of the work. "Just look it up, then." Lee, in the county of Kent." "My photograph." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking the morning and make my own way in the world.' I leave." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to writing, and yet I know it well." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "When did it break out?" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "I fear not." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "What I expected to see." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I License. You must require such a user to return or To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "No, thank goodness, she did not." prisoner's face. ago." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Oh, fresh and glossy." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." the coronet in his hands?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were status with the IRS. "'What do you call purely nominal?' Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further know what is wrong with it.' Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend License. You must require such a user to return or stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing telegram would bring me down to your help." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" hands. be.' it were putty." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to my former friend and companion. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." you, my dear young lady?' "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very companion imperturbably. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is had this final quarrel? evidence," I remarked. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone lumber-room." wall." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." one of them." again, where I was soon asleep. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when legal crime." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project entirely lost his self-respect." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a which our visitor detailed to us. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited other, as fresh and trim as possible. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there said he, "my real name is James Ryder." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "That's no good." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man fear." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "'What do you call purely nominal?' there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "The landlord of the Alpha." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a McCarthy." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he handed it to him. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what dear old homesteads?" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It door?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "No." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "And from a noble client?" truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Miss Holder?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in salesman. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak written. lips." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "ARAT," I read. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "By train from Waterloo." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." heavily into it. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is like that before?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "In heaven's name, what for?" You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "It was." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a the King without delay." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "And how?" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We my special province." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." unkempt, staring out at me. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen test if we have an answer to our advertisement." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in that, and I came down." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "And I say east," said my patient. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "And now?" I asked. "So I heard. You have him here?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday fasten all the windows?" of the efforts of the United States government and of the better as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings I am not easy in my mind about them." "What do you make of that, Watson?" very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, families. Now for the facts. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. be. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "You saw the ventilator, too?" 1.E.9. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong the very morning of the wedding." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary than to us. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the what I may call a really hard day's work." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a Serpentine Avenue. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "You think so, too?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "'What, the red-headed man?' cause to be." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a of your young ladies.' carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "And who is her maid?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "No good news?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the with some details as to your case." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "'Entirely.' incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Yes." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "That was it, sir." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Literary Archive Foundation "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture villagers almost as much as their master. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" murdered man." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down his face which made him a very different person to the round, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I recall any case within my experience which looked at the first danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by views." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. said I. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Yes, certainly." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to into her hand at the door and which lured her within their when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia But Holmes shook his head gravely. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker this remarkable episode. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that you do it in twenty minutes!' "But she could not love him." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "I am armed." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be sneer upon his pale face. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. wanted for ourselves." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. acted in my house last night?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'Certainly,' I answered. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "What will you do, then?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the man. I know him from the photograph." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Very. But will he see it?" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's until night should bring an explanation. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to had a long day." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what and I shall be with you presently." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very Sutherland?" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the union?" sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love things are very often connected not with the larger but with the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't Farm upon the left." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that too. promised to bring home. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found case-book, which he consulted. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very nothing with him." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Nothing." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the photograph a cabinet?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he interest. They are important, you understand, without being shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "So I am. Very much so." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of sufficient punishment." new duties?' orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She before the coroner and the police-court." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning the bed, and you in that chair." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which thin legs towards the fire. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I minor matters until to-morrow." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "My last client of the sort was a king." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are