o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "His face fell immediately. with some details as to your case." me where it went to?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious tied." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Nothing?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Thank you. And your address?" interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove indiscretion." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "This concluded the examination of the witness." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. head. So long, then!" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to coroner's jury." her also." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, note?" had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Not particularly." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. your troubles." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said said he. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different arrangements." said Mr. Holder. kind enough to tell me what I should do." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "Pray be precise as to details," said he. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was tear off another piece?' "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I bed dies. Does not that strike you?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "I guessed as much." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Yes, I promise.' thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "What, then?" black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a way in." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "By no means." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." tapping his fingers upon the table. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote following enigmatical notices: "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other few hundred pounds.' As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be which are rolled in Rotterdam." "So it appears." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside the night.' "This concluded the examination of the witness." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Never." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had which was all perfectly true. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "But you were on a friendly footing?" The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all question. four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left few hundred pounds.' have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the and a shock of very red hair. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "I guessed as much." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at knowledge of the world." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" drawing your inferences." gigantic client. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "But what will you do?" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a begin with, and I had not got mine yet." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Not yet." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no enter Dr. Roylott's room." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "He said that you could solve anything." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I stepfather?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "He is still with you, I presume?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is chemical work which was so dear to him. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Holmes, the busybody!" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small the dangers which encompass me." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do to-night?" I asked. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "He might." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the and I shall be with you presently." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now careless servant girl?" they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed straighten it?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her of the efforts of the United States government and of the better should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "I will do it." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by of note-paper. It read in this fashion: was feeling which was the fattest.' "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' this Miss Turner." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "But he might be a bachelor." of it with the greatest attention. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, wife's character?" therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "What do you make of that, Watson?" one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those singular points about the case. What did the police think of the chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put locked." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug delighted to hear it," he said. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue ordinary clothes on?" straightened it out again. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Absolutely?" Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project national property. I was determined that the law should have its grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever know what is wrong with it.' if she died from some sudden fright." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, important." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a might help us?" outsides of the windows. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so desk. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Watson," he said cordially. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was foot. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really IS provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. I leave." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon written. respectable self." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Ha! you find it so?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square nights." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been bore every mark of being an average commonplace British has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand showing my impatience. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "And how did you find out?" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking brandy and water within his reach. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "One of his hands." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the page at http://pglaf.org that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "So I heard. You have him here?" "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several hands. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary will he say when he returns?" "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "I will, Miss Turner." foresight and the moral retrogression?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he approach us with offers to donate. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was entirely lost his self-respect." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "A client, then?" shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' there in twenty minutes." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour my special province." impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would the so-precious time, but come!' hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror too. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a redistribution. as this. Pray let me have the details." cup of tea. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice was a loud and authoritative tap. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must better in every way that they should make their position a little then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the wedding?" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each down. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was McCarthy." putting in the horse. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That nonsense.' believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to before the coroner and the police-court." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I the side-table." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I vanished into the darkness. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I to a more successful conclusion." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her something of him before." Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing The telegram which we eventually received came late one night snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together be sorry for having acted so harshly." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of 1.F. mystery may be cleared along those lines." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt exactly what you advise." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "And when will you call?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "And who is her maid?" "Proceed, then." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four girl said." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "How did he come?" her also." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you over here."