very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would was the fact that his father should, according to his account, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Could he throw no light?" any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that is so. I know all about McCarthy." meant." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the off." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in any." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project time." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an may never be exposed to such a temptation." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire morning." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the rat could hardly pass through." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this chamber." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote I was concerned in it." matter." there!' "Nothing." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an chemical work which was so dear to him. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "And when will you call?" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would so.' is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in case before our client came into the room." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the some terrible trap for her." absorbing." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "About a month then." "The murder was done with it." has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too least a fellow-countryman. bill, which interests me deeply." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles http://www.gutenberg.net this man was intellectual?" "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "I say that I have solved it." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "That is not always so easy." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "VIOLET HUNTER." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Look there!" said he. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "And how in the world did you find them?" learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "I see no marks." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical McCarthy's innocence. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "What can it mean?" I gasped. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they matters immensely." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "It must be recovered." "You are all wrong." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "And your father? Did you tell him?" my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "How many? I don't know." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "'What are you doing there?' he asked. first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of would then never go into court at all." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' the Assizes." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most bell. Holmes whistled. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Why did you beat the pavement?" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "But she could not love him." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "But how did you gain them?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, address. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Henry Baker is a member." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "I do." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such have got?" allusion to a rat. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "And is that all?" never came back." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his closing the door. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I thirty. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy key of the affair now." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the to have been novel and of interest." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "I shall be delighted." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she But Holmes shook his head gravely. people in all walks of life. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "'I am sure that I do not know.' effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "I have my revolver," said I. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of the morning and make my own way in the world.' besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful with some details as to your case." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here them, and came down just as you departed. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "You are hungry," I remarked. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom more solid." "In answer to an advertisement." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical fled together." husband's writing, madam." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up happened." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "'You cannot say what it was?' of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is salesman. them, and came down just as you departed. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "It surprised me." "At the wedding breakfast." society." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two up this clue while it is still hot." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent someone who had been in Australia." opened the door, and slipped through. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, newspaper selections." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray gigantic client. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have more terrible than the truth. "Ample." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "But his lameness?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it been." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself ourselves in the office." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "You horrify me!" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Holmes, the busybody!" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey have accepted such a situation. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As people in all walks of life. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." such attractions and accomplishments?' "Yes?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "But you have hopes?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he a very grave face. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "Yes?" back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "This photograph!" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found was shining brightly. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, them?" as the one I chose?' not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of of the efforts of the United States government and of the better return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed as the one I chose?' ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. Stoke Moran." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "But it has twice been burgled." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. him, that man would not have given me such complete information confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." more solid." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival colonel looking down at me. "Where did you address your letters, then?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. only touch the interest." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "On Monday." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before the roots. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in there was no need for father to know." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Certainly." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and this remarkable episode. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the her also." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "I was certainly surprised to find you there." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. hand, madam?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "He is still with you, I presume?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "What will you do, then?" maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that shall not find me ungrateful." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "I have a cab outside." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side papers diligently of late, have you not?" ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "It is half-past ten now." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a such person." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who one which it was hard to resist. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable father's young wife. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. lumber-room."