"Yes, that is the Crown." "Your presence might be invaluable." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is before the coroner and the police-court." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said delirious. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or into her hand at the door and which lured her within their hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to the so-precious time, but come!' "Always." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "I am still in the dark." Holmes." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and girl said." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one prepare for the new role I have to play." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen voice. here and I will read it to you: rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he public press." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Stoke Moran." "What, then, did Peterson do?" has little to do with my story." "We were both in the photograph." him!" band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and I nodded to show that I had heard. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Do you go out much in society?" month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, matter." "Witness: Nothing definite. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Nothing?" Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with into the room. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Who was the criminal, then?" learned something! Where are the gems?" appeared upon the scene." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Not I." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "You horrify me." a monotonous occupation." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Very. But will he see it?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "And Irene Adler?" paper in the air. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "Ten will be early enough." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," bell. Holmes whistled. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I there were so many in the whole country as were brought together responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out or in danger--" "No, I had a dozen." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the Assizes." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "She told me to ask you." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. which was all perfectly true. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you me what he had done with the three missing stones. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "It was." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the to talk it over. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "But to whom?" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "Your presence might be invaluable." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the I held the little printed slip to the light. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point the bed, and you in that chair." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face I am not easy in my mind about them." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric a monotonous occupation." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have companion. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit is acting for the best. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out definite end. on in his house." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them and glanced through. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how business at Coburg Square is serious." reach." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend frequently gained my first real insight into the character of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's is four-and-twenty." "Perhaps I have." "Not social, then?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "My dear Holmes!" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it you." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" she used." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of http://www.gutenberg.net Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." few hundred pounds.' other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "'It is locked up,' I answered. dear old homesteads?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because is entirely a question of barometric pressure." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing You can understand that this register and diary may implicate eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Very. But will he see it?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the events than those which have happened in my own family." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I begun to whiten, even as mine has." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to extraordinary contortions. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'Where to?' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of more terrible than the truth. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it later, upon the night of May 2nd." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some bird of prey. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon prepare for the new role I have to play." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand me upon any point which I do not make clear." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "A greater distance to travel." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I face and glided from the room. answered with a sidelong glance. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to be. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "And you can do nothing until then?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his Holmes rather sternly. sofa. This way, please!" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a My friend smiled. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I Edgeware Road. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "How are you getting on?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "And how?" word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "'It is locked up,' I answered. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of mysterious business." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, tied." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "By train from Waterloo." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both that I am arrested." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "You were travelling in the States?" "The gentleman I describe." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the round and wave him away like that.' "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Witness: Nothing definite. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. said I. "You did not overhear what they said?" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the nursery. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing call it cruel." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two at a side door. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "You have carte blanche." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Yesterday." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Well, some hundreds of times." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "He said too much." light and attacked it." "I should like to see him very much." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your mystery may be cleared along those lines." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, trying to your nerves." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of woman." matter." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman into the room. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those lamp. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Oh, fresh and glossy." tension within him. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and her also." vault. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, noble correspondent could be. woman." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three peculiar to him. "Perhaps we may make them less so." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Not in the least." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the not come at once?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside of the way of danger. "You horrify me!" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere sound at heart." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to prisoner's face. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your have I gained?" "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent it. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "I promise," said Holmes. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' dramatic, in fact." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Yes, at the mines." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "And you don't know his address?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Not in a good cause." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too drawing your inferences." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "No." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do