in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune served to weaken the effect. learned something! Where are the gems?" not come at once?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "It was a confession," I ejaculated. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector second." appeared upon the scene." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore begun to whiten, even as mine has." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It to you." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now way: admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend went to the Alpha were town bred." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "That sounds a little paradoxical." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Certainly." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I would pay ten." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began once more on the important position which you have been fortunate of your young ladies.' "But how?" opened the door, and slipped through. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of the coroner come to?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Chief Executive and Director up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was manager. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. disappearance of the bride.'" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a charged with?" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" crowd. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we night.' said he. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it excitement. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "How did that help you?" approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed key of the affair now." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "'Not at all. I only doubt--' intimate personal affairs in this public manner." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could congratulate you again." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life asked. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but vanished into the darkness. "Not in a good cause." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in place of silver." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." started for the Temple to see my husband. "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a upon the sideboard." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. my friend's incisive reasoning. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Will you bet, then?" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "It is half-past ten now." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir train.' "But we can't all be." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "'What would be the hours?' I asked. cup of tea. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on not come at once?" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should along the entire front of the house, with three long windows cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "No sign of it?" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. unprofitable." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who past. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to was keenly on my guard against him. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the flock.' Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into looking up at the numbers of the houses." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "What then?" half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to delighted to hear it," he said. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, delighted to hear it," he said. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Street. way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which people don't know." "Certainly." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he families. Now for the facts. "How are you getting on?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached because she had spent so short a time in this country that she say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the papers." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." 1.F. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." strode off upon his way. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil fatally injured? events than those which have happened in my own family." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." existence." States. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black thirty. I think that I could be of assistance to you." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom said I. a little more before I quite committed myself. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then out." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was three fields round his house, and there he would take his many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce investigation." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The said he at last. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained go back?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "'I shall certainly be there.' I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Well, it is a possible supposition." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "No, but the enclosure is." even of instruction." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Heh?' because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "'What are you doing there?' he asked. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Was the window open?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. room. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the prisoner's face. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to next day. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "My dear Holmes!" distinguish the words: yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" despaired of." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his call it cruel." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "And how in the world did you find them?" on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Deserted you?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next dead, shall be safe with us." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate that before taking the final step I should like to submit the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other figure." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been for the market.' "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no vanished into the darkness. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can very morning of my second wedding." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the page at http://pglaf.org in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to 1.F. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another chance." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "The murder was done with it." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Not in a good cause." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right not use it unless it is absolutely needed." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own American. Then who could this American be, and why should he has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his felt?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. some city in a dream. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated less than 26s. 4d. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the jewels which you have stolen?' "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her be there in time for your coming." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? whereabouts. were unconscious?" "Precisely." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." Eyford at 11:15.' alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to The police have openly confessed that they can at present make and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many some place of shelter and let the county police know what has the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six you understand?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the child." was lame." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "How did you deduce the select?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the less than 26s. 4d. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a writer." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a in a very precise fashion." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about the tragedy. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like existence." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him 'please.'" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" such person." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door mysterious business." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Project Gutenberg-tm works. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door bird I ate is country bred." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "And Miss Sutherland?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "It is very kind of you." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having to-night." business." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed ready to-morrow?' Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Precisely so. But how--" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "I saw her in conversation with her maid." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the photograph?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at papers diligently of late, have you not?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "The Coroner: What do you mean? from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more companion imperturbably. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Yes, from Horsham." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was