laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he prepare for the new role I have to play." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself advice." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey thought that she would have been so carried away." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his tension within him. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were spare." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my head. So long, then!" unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "She told me to ask you." colonel looking down at me. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "That is also quite modern," said the lady. detective. "'Yes, sir.' "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor take the flies, but not before." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "It is solved." "No, but the enclosure is." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in green of the new foliage. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "You have a clue?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I shadow pass over his face as I spoke. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa noble correspondent could be. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to promised to bring home. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Why? What do you mean?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Mrs. Toller serenely. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me in the dead of the night?' other lovers by making love himself." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back strong reason behind." "What have you to say now?" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. read it out to me." beyond words. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my bird I ate is country bred." bearing upon the case." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Yes." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination meant it for the best. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and feature." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "The landlord of the Alpha." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past I held the little printed slip to the light. "I came to find a friend." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. official police." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "The decline of his fortunes, then?" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who point in the dark hollow of his hand. lectures into a series of tales." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking and your relations to her." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, ventilator." just called myself is not exactly my own." good for you to do.' "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations dead, shall be safe with us." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent http://gutenberg.net/license). "Married! When?" "'Ample.' thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning 1.E.9. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven o'clock is it?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you that I can to serve you." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted weapon." I was concerned in it." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, gentleman's clothes. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a opened a pocket-book and took out a note. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed the nursery. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Foundation him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the in one or two places in England?' "I see no marks." child?' "No." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not but preventing her from injuring another. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the enter into my head. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "What, then, did Peterson do?" Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "No, but the enclosure is." "My last client of the sort was a king." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the and all of them with the keenest interest. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Come in!" said he. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "I came to find a friend." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage miles off. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every better grown goose." hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could tightly behind him. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "I see no marks." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I have my revolver," said I. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest washing it down with a long draught of water. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel results." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a opened a pocket-book and took out a note. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There go from here to the Strand." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Because he was handy and would come cheap." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was with frightened eyes at his accuser. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "No, I had a dozen." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to from the brougham. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, sooner or later she must fall a victim. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "But you can know nothing of this?" "Yes, he did." "'And the work?' dead, shall be safe with us." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "'Tell me all about it,' said I. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "I came to find a friend." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "He disappeared so suddenly." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step weigh very heavily upon my conscience." existence." prisoner's face. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "No." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "One horse?" interjected Holmes. during which he might have communicated with his friend the which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which this unhappy family?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that as he remarks, very much against the son." "Nothing." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "I should like to see him very much." "You have a clue?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's Lee, in the county of Kent." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "You forget that I know nothing about it." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own round with crates and massive boxes. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "How did you deduce the select?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. matter over." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. at a side door. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, present." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "In the cells." "I think that it is very probable." the child." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that outside. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that along the entire front of the house, with three long windows This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the overpowering excitement and concern. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say drove away. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't of note-paper. It read in this fashion: sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Pray tell us what has happened to you." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a wedding?" "I beg pardon." photograph?" said he. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "None." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Yes." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared in the hope of finding them." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "None." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went my room." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "The gentleman I describe." fait accompli?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing DISSOLVED. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the whereabouts. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he Doctor, of the paper and the date." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "'Yes, I promise.' Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that was a perfect sample of the class. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." one which it was hard to resist. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it felt?" from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how acquaintance?" he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the roots. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long three of the beryls in it, was missing. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with III. "Very much so." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been which was all perfectly true. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. his cane at the bell-pull. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy out." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes.