read it out to me." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "In what way?" asked Holmes. Holmes." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "And how did you find out?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by paper in the air. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to wanted for ourselves." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Surrey." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "And how?" the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a that Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; 'I should be able to look after that for you.' face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal be there in time for your coming." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered it right.' me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "I don't believe it." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "I cannot think." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a bell. Holmes whistled. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "An enemy?" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the following enigmatical notices: "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it meanly of me." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose know that the truth is known." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the was a perfect sample of the class. sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt his forehead." "What shall I do?" the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "A call for help, you thought?" "When did it break out?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the vault. "At half-wages, in fact." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was get the tickets." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be is," said he presently: many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over she to prove their authenticity?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young derbies." of it with the greatest attention. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I golden eyeglasses. papers must be those that are destroyed.' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly or in danger--" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been heavily into it. society." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. to arrive at through this?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if existence." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "I promise," said Holmes. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with other, as fresh and trim as possible. voice. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "Very well, sir. And this stone?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "And the murderer?" "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "'Certainly not. But why?' "What! Had he lost his wife?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an directly by questioning you." detained." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is compunction about shooting them down." "What then?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "He is dead," cried several voices. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, upon the sideboard." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. happened." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch what these perils are?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon thin, with a long, sharp nose?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, discontent upon his features. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "And what did you learn from him?" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point stood on the top of it. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks case before our client came into the room." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be go back?" "And how did you find out?" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though had this final quarrel? "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then to a more successful conclusion." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the manager. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "I have hopes." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Murdered?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to man. I know him from the photograph." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend name is different." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Yes." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my call you and give you the chance." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front hopeless attempt at recovering them." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue wife's character?" list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just with some details as to your case." "VIOLET HUNTER." could gather together that I was able to avert another public given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'Yes.' my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds some city in a dream. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "The gentleman I describe." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "But to whom?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "A confidential servant?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To were wasted." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads I leave." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Then he might have called to you?" "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to companion imperturbably. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long late." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too chill to my heart. the ceiling. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. waste of energy." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from silent! Oh, he will be silent!' superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "I fear not." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "But how?" gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was manager. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." him nearly every evening." married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital matter over." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. the house with me." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "'Certainly not.' my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman this poor creature." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Street. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said and I shall be with you presently." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Sutherland?" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "My dear Holmes!" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Then I do not see the point." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every grasp, he hurried from the room. "The best possible." "How can you tell that?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, dates and names. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. promised to bring home. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "I have a cab outside." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Here?" Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might have I gained?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? village inn over there?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little upon the shelf for the interim." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "I am all attention, madam." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet official police." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into furiously. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "A thing like a cleaver," said he. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but roused himself from his reverie. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Count Von Kramm." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Get out!" said he. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or you, my dear young lady?' air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "And the murderer?" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a to tackle the facts." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Where, then, is my wife?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each gives a meaning to it." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under crowd. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared in his hands." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were in a very precise fashion." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my was a loud and authoritative tap. "I see no marks." name is different." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not it means?" exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of help us in this matter." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' easy-going way." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "10th. John Swain cleared. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Nothing." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have over with notes and figures. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "'About the same.' "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a remarked. "And from a noble client?" America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress directors have had misgivings upon the subject." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I