of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached gigantic client. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the coronet at all injured?" Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with Holmes' room. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is we went to search for him, face downward in a little I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Count Von Kramm." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "The Coroner: What do you mean? What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Has he come with you to-night?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." nothing with him." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Come in!" said Holmes. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week followed. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Pope's Court. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "In answer to an advertisement." the ceiling. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we mysterious end." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." good for you to do.' not interfere, come what may. You understand?" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other official police." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was results." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Then I can wait in the next room." "The rest you will leave in our hands." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied My friend smiled. interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and several quiet little villages up there." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings never to learn it at all." "And from a noble client?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "You have compromised yourself seriously." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have kind enough to tell me what I should do." it." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of prisoner's face. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about second." "My last client of the sort was a king." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other than to us. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. was used.' "And now?" I asked. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the morning and make my own way in the world.' wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "What is it, then--a fire?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to that he has suffered." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the Friday. Was it to be in church?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Sutherland. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who beyond words. dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in go from here to the Strand." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "But it has twice been burgled." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which mystery." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think villagers almost as much as their master. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I evidence," I remarked. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from too. "Where did you address your letters, then?" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the one which it was hard to resist. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the tied." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I front of the hall door has given its name to the place. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "He disappeared so suddenly." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the had formerly been in part my own. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "I am to be neutral?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed allusion to a rat. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Munro.' with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs you in your example." your only hope of safety." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Not particularly." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, that, and I came down." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at are, I think, all that we need." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship you found me to-night--and running through the front room she so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of views." "It is no ordinary one." few hundred pounds.' stammered. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated father's young wife. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "'There is a drive, then?' "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two shoulder. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. tapping his fingers upon the table. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "What then?" "I will get her to show me." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a stepfather?" compunction about shooting them down." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; in this note: those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Never to return." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a feature." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "What then?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I lamp. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ must compliment you." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "'A dozen yards or so.' so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, nonsense.' Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is your sleep?' the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the said he at last. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "His face fell immediately. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot over part of the map. "What do you read?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "I have seen the police." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Pool. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes status with the IRS. "And on what day did he meet his death?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with if she died from some sudden fright." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence you." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered once more. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital heavily into it. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle how narrow had been my escape. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of go from here to the Strand." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "I have solved it." "And is that all?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. or in danger--" call you and give you the chance." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, meant." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my to talk it over. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was used to be." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down think that any burglar could have done. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up such person." in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" client, rising. "Married! When?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must his wife has ceased to love him." "Yes, from Horsham." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their there when the Rucastles went away." correct than the official force." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she not personally threatened." "Stolen." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "But not more so than I to find you." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Frequently." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be voice, changing her seat as requested. three of the beryls in it, was missing. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre to a more successful conclusion." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With beyond words. "Why? What do you mean?" electronic works bears upon the case?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I I took the paper from him and read as follows: Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "His face fell immediately. in a friendly supper." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and to have that photograph." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some the stones. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your fear." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project charge against him will break down." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very will not take me long to tell. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "That is it on the dressing-table." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "And on what day did he meet his death?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I cannot tell." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the flock.' he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know in a very precise fashion." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "'I have heard so.' do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "'Ten to two.' "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in some water from a caraffe. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Who was the criminal, then?" four million human beings all jostling each other within the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the suspect him." nice household for a young lady." bell. Holmes whistled. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was said I. situation." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Yes, the wine-cellar." little adventures." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's as yours." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "'I have already given you my word.' he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are I shall communicate with you." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to there!' "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "It surprised me." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no fasten all the windows?" Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend and put his glass in his pocket. "'I shall certainly be there.' "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the deduce something from that?" "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so eavesdroppers?' that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "'A dozen yards or so.' we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably,