"My private note-paper." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see matter over." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "No, I am descending." "'Yes, sir.' yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots it." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "'What do you call purely nominal?' "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the becomes even more simple." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present that he will be back before evening." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. you for a few hours?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Has he come with you to-night?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I think that it is very probable." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" in the hope of finding them." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Thank you. Pray proceed." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "What can it mean?" I gasped. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped words came to my lips. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any again, where I was soon asleep. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the hair?' "She will not sell." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt the dangers which encompass me." in a friendly supper." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a true." "To the police?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. where she found matters as described by the last witness. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity for and were ordered to this address. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter past. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Well, but China?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the your sleep?' greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I came to find a friend." His smile broadened. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I your own bird, so if you wish--" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in wedding?" rooms." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "It is possible." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Holmes' room. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." any." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "And did you observe any change in her then?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so beg that you will break it off." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "I guessed as much." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. status with the IRS. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "How many? I don't know." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell closing the door. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "So I heard. You have him here?" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "And how?" mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'Tell me all about it,' said I. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a Holmes rather sternly. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'Never,' said I. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" of the one which your family is now devouring." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which dead, shall be safe with us." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Will you go?" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "ARAT," I read. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he infinite languor in his face. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small "I have a cab outside." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry You want to know what became of those geese?" meanly of me." if she died from some sudden fright." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Miss Holder?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the again before evening." an introduction to him?" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "But she will refuse." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Nothing?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "That was it, sir." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "'I have heard so.' station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "Not yet." had died away into the silence from which it rose. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you existence." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had there were one or two details which were new to me. But the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst character. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its Project Gutenberg-tm works. have got?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "That is possible." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "'How far from the body?' against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now Pope's Court, Fleet Street." with the outside air!" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was in darkness. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from to change my dress. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, before, for it was considerably after midnight. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Oh, fresh and glossy." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she pressing in one house as in another. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," done what I asked you, Jones?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were to that open window." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our particular state visit http://pglaf.org his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. was a perfect sample of the class. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Then I can wait in the next room." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished lamp in his hand. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. crowd. ashen face. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will http://gutenberg.net/license). "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. the night.' "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a fluttered off among the others. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, the little opening for the ventilator is." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight light and attacked it." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My gone. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both with you?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for the roots. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a the tragedy. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Her father is very rich?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert Surrey." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain examine." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "And did you observe any change in her then?" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. intrusion of other matters." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, invisible to me," I remarked. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. true." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "And I to find an enemy." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, carried out of court." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and husband's writing, madam." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "The knees of his trousers." four million human beings all jostling each other within the shall not find me ungrateful." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Where, indeed?" once more to my work. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Yes?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "I cannot tell." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "What is it?" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which begin with, and I had not got mine yet." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I article?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and you for a few hours?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped His smile broadened.