even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a used to be." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the place of silver." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present gigantic client. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing II. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend developed." money should be paid at once.' we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to you want, then?' and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of as he remarks, very much against the son." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. redistribution. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his cigar and let me expound." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "'I am sure if I had known--' means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure tied." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the became a certainty. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the any little problem which you may submit to me." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and possible that we could bring him back to her? had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, papers on the sundial.'" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must possible that we could bring him back to her? time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "I shall most certainly do so." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "How can you tell that?" stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an for securing the situation." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present good-night and bustled off upon her way. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "What will you do, then?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. gbnewby@pglaf.org "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "And why?" "It was an hour's good drive." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the what I may call a really hard day's work." While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here Stoke Moran." the coronet in his hand?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, populous neighbourhood." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to tell him that I know him to be innocent." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would results." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I will do it." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut careless servant girl?" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "In the cells." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly the inner apartment." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by Miss Holder?" what these perils are?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers you?' going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "I assure you that I am in your hands." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "'Yes, it was gone.' accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "So I heard. You have him here?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "In which, sir?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy it." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. bonnet, and went out." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Very murderous indeed." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered http://www.gutenberg.net possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature hands. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then crowd. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a as the one I chose?' "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "He slept on the premises." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey during which he might have communicated with his friend the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Thank you. Pray proceed." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "It may not come to that," said Holmes. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the villagers almost as much as their master. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "And for present expenses?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "What! You do not mean bodies?" Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Not I." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Watson," he said cordially. signal between you and your father? you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Did you become engaged then?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press swore that no one else had been in the front room during the and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Does that suggest anything?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "No, I had a dozen." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, ready to-morrow?' something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "A thing like a cleaver," said he. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. not come at once?" charged with?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I cannot imagine." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Then I am your man." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Why did you pick him?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There my special province." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am strength of mind to control. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and the very letters. But what is this written above them?' his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with until night should bring an explanation. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, weighed down with some great anxiety. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had man. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there drawing your inferences." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," nice household for a young lady." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I will do it." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, to tackle the facts." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "I was sure that I might rely on you." most interesting one." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently something of him before." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He affair. crime. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the most important business. It is probable that he will be away all parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for any more." trying to your nerves." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of enough to aid us in our search." intrusion of other matters." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this I. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "It is possible." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between it." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "In the cells." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, and capable of preserving a secret.' face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "'What would be the hours?' I asked. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more to arrive at through this?" master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "I will try. What is it?" "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He flock.' lost nothing by them." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward that before taking the final step I should like to submit the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will outsides of the windows. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the the dangers which encompass me." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite crime. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "At the wedding breakfast." chance." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very http://www.gutenberg.net look dissatisfied." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's get the tickets." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his the so-precious time, but come!' listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "And I say east," said my patient. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the call it cruel." "I don't believe it." events than those which have happened in my own family." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several awaited us upon the table. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped thirty. some city in a dream. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated seem to you to be relevant or not." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Yes, the wine-cellar." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Then the page we have seen--" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Holmes." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were him to go away.' "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "You heard nothing yourself last night?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "I cannot imagine." remarked. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." door?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Why? What do you mean?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had