1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns what do you think they found in the pockets?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little instincts rose up against that laugh. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which open." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east stood on the top of it. "You have carte blanche." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "'Where to?' the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I row." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Yes. He waved his hands." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "You horrify me." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I roused himself from his reverie. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "What!" he roared. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found conceal it?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Yesterday." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he key turn in the lock." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of later, upon the night of May 2nd." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my depend upon my doing so.' sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, of the way of danger. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "Ten will be early enough." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' interests were the same as his." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Then I am your man." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without he. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a in one or two places in England?' at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable instituted." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." breakfast." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, lips." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. investigation." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "No more words. Get out!" "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, straightened it out again. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony imbecility!" he cried. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Upon what point?" but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Do you know him?" "It goes to the housekeeper's room." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it do.' nothing of it?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very down. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of I leave." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the I shall continue with my miserable story. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon criminal. We have already had experience of such." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: if I call to-morrow?" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across photograph a cabinet?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been woman who has had her own way to make in the world. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, My friend smiled. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy suggested at once that there must be a communication between the it." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw success. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some go--none." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "What can it mean?" I gasped. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Nearly eleven." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another think that he is innocent?" "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that married her." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "I will do it." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Get out!" said he. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Indeed! Whose, then?" his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "But how did you gain them?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "What do you make of that, Watson?" play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. once more. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander and files of the old papers, following the future career of every thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of such person." derbies." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from cost them two and thirty pounds." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every touch that coronet?' star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I am following you closely," I answered. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There father's place of business?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "How do you know, then?" know that the truth is known." way: The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "That was it, sir." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "'Yes, sir.' this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "You horrify me!" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "How about poison?" not within a twentieth part of the market price." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. back into the street. the tragedy. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell national property. I was determined that the law should have its my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Project Gutenberg-tm works. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "'I am sure that I do not know.' should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "But to whom?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Your presence might be invaluable." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, there in twenty minutes." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the heavy and sharp instrument." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "That's no good." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Not I." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "I was sure that I might rely on you." lamp. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "My stepfather's business papers." events than those which have happened in my own family." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass did not hear it also.' Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he chambers. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated photograph?" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which weapon." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that their singular warning or token before them when starting upon thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is be. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened shoulder. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure do you make of it all?" lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "It is half-past ten now." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a awaited us upon the table. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "I think that it is very probable." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "But what will you do?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which any more." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Again Holmes raved in the air. the little opening for the ventilator is." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said conceal it?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "And how did he make his money?" "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Imitated." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Yes." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "But she could not love him." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of ventilator." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" fatally injured? foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" once more. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not rose-bushes. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Why, it's a dummy," said he. good-night and bustled off upon her way. "But the mystery?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a colonel looking down at me. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The sit on the left-hand side of the driver." father's young wife. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I made his money." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I directors have had misgivings upon the subject." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks that threaten you." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "What is it?" "I am to be neutral?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "That sounds a little paradoxical." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." was feeling which was the fattest.' yet." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and joking. union?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the said he, "my real name is James Ryder." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" and effective." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My be.' learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon in his power. became a certainty. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. wanted for ourselves." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "No, but the enclosure is." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a humiliation." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit arrangements." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge man. such person." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with