beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Yes, sir." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a one of them." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was forebodings. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number ceremony." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a window when the police appeared." points to suicide?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass notes," he said. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "And now?" I asked. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "I am in hopes that she does." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "No, I had a dozen." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and James Windibank. Voilà tout!" The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Sholtos." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of directors have had misgivings upon the subject." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "I cannot imagine." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might believe that I should never have any practice at all. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the never will be, entirely cleared up. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "It is to him that this trophy belongs." at a side door. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, the so-precious time, but come!' without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Perhaps we may make them less so." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been tassel actually lying upon the pillow. had picked up in the wood. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two views." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can place of silver." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the him!" stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of comes from the middle window." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Entirely." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "That is it on the dressing-table." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry would then never go into court at all." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did enough to aid us in our search." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "No good news?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "This photograph!" reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of triumphant cloud from his cigarette. ashen face. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the helping a boy to put up the shutters. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "I do." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, main points of my analysis." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. telegram would bring me down to your help." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt his face. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, arrangements." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' matter over." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's the little opening for the ventilator is." the devil!" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "That sounds a little paradoxical." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the child?' "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Entirely." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and speckled band?" letters?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "That was it, sir." quick march!" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "What do you make of that, Watson?" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Certainly." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to with frightened eyes at his accuser. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are enough to aid us in our search." second window is the one that I jumped from." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. clanging. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" straighten it?" Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's October 9, 1890. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Which surely he restored to their owner?" I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Then I can wait in the next room." in a very precise fashion." British peeress.'" used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a was the fact that his father should, according to his account, charge against him will break down." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which foresight and the moral retrogression?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This second window is the one that I jumped from." present." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "I would give my fortune to have them back." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "But what will you do?" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the posted to-day." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we 11:15.' "What! a murderous attack?" present." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. you." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this carriage. It was a chestnut." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A sound at heart." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the house with me." voice, changing her seat as requested. there was no need for father to know." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress that?' kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "But how will you look?" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand like gravel from a pit.' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was excitement. of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, business matters.' hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Your sister is dead, then?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Yes, sir." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what "'What are you doing there?' he asked. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "At the wedding breakfast." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in money should be paid at once.' thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. passage and a tap at the door. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." giving me time to thank him. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not and wait." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "The doctor?" "But what is it you wish?" slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss simple cases which are so extremely difficult." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed weighed down with some great anxiety. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "In which, sir?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they have been better. It is all right." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with mystery may be cleared along those lines." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; south, for the country is more deserted there." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at then?" "Yes, it was twisted." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is away into the river." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "She told me to ask you." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs these bleak autumnal evenings." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "And the murderer?" past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two place of silver." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "And your father? Did you tell him?" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Well, some hundreds of times." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked three fields round his house, and there he would take his country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is him to be an active member of the medical profession." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "What are they?" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Chief Executive and Director extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I from you?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Foundation "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, me. "Yes." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "My private note-paper." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "What! a murderous attack?" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. excitement. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "What! Had he lost his wife?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in direction." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a said Mr. Holder. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when