"On Monday." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most London for the present?" usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Witness: It was. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "You were travelling in the States?" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, cost them two and thirty pounds." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood I have it here in my museum." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the the inquest, and which are worth considering." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, ways including including checks, online payments and credit card Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his You can understand that this register and diary may implicate ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were shoulder. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. as he remarks, very much against the son." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "That was it, sir." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "I beg pardon." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'You cannot say what it was?' children over to America with him, so that I found myself without clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' there has been an enclosure here!" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian you." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Nothing?" over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "But it has twice been burgled." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money of Mr. Rucastle's." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a 1.F. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." said I. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "It was an hour's good drive." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to directly by questioning you." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he down from London to inquire more deeply into it." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "That's no good." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "What do you make of that, Watson?" "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is of the way of danger. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Then he might have called to you?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It little trying to do so much typewriting?" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, corner of the building. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see power." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry cigars in their mouths. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a things are very often connected not with the larger but with the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could threw himself down with his face to the pillow. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at pictures, libraries, or plate. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Pray do so." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Why did you beat the pavement?" and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "None." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His was feeling which was the fattest.' the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "No." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. been with you?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first cheerful." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'Oh, no.' agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock than was visible to me." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "But we can't all be." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "And that is--" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to upon the shelf for the interim." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as were unconscious?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "I think that it is very probable." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout was feeling which was the fattest.' has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always here." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set floor. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual night.' said he. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon narrative." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not what is your own theory as to what took place?" the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Not yet." know what is wrong with it.' was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Then, how do you know?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Certainly." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between that you saw all that I did." "Yes?" photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' was not a bird to be seen there. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I have got?" help us in this matter." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but perplexity from it to my illustrious client. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "It is his hat." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "She told me to ask you." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I there!' brain must have something in it." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "How did you deduce the select?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, forebodings. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My his grey eyes. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but your equipment. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "None." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right awkward doing business with an alias." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very he. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt mysterious business." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. passage and a tap at the door. question. "It is half-past ten now." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I stepfather?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. correct than the official force." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "A call for help, you thought?" without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with any more." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "By no means." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the gone before you can get him to hospital." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows skylight. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As breakfast?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Then the page we have seen--" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. come either from the window or the door. My attention was certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "'What do you call purely nominal?' enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out at my own good fortune. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in London for the present?" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley in my life." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "Yes, certainly." narrative." be there in time for your coming." "Nothing." individual and becomes the badge of a society." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to you found me to-night--and running through the front room she I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing do." one of them." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the more terrible than the truth. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Yes. He waved his hands." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Very much so." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with be.' He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical amused." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I think it very unlikely." I approached. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged himself in a perplexing position. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his evidence," I remarked. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these in my life." be best to do. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was writer." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such or in danger--" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord call the police, let the police find what they can.' "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "'You cannot say what it was?' wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence one's self under obligations.' call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." you?" conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." his huge brown hands. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend get her out of the way." written, and locked the door of the office after me. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, very old mansion. "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of she has been waylaid. There has been no result." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves possible that we could bring him back to her? really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on detective. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a