"You know me, then?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until extraordinary contortions. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head people in all walks of life. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me not come at once?" The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. happened." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Was the window open?" results." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached away into the river." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Holmes, the busybody!" wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, to me. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, not, dad?" she asked. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he really the only notable feature about the thing." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Witness: It was. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "And from a noble client?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, three fields round his house, and there he would take his connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, held up the lantern and gazed about him. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his with you?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I pressing in one house as in another. "Did you become engaged then?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight you." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers over with notes and figures. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the brandy and water within his reach. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "He is still with you, I presume?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her his eyes and forehead. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of desk. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no what these perils are?" "'Quite sure, dad.' vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, on in his house." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an as he remarks, very much against the son." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you all-comprehensive glances. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were may never be exposed to such a temptation." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of call for it in person on Monday morning.' "It missed him, then?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could of." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One of them has the shutters up.' then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. one of the states of the Union." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "You have a clue?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." ashen face. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his meant." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees the side-table." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Pool. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building indeed which he could not unravel. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke least a most suspicious remark." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and the night.' grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my that there was nothing in it, after all." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came fish-monger and a tide-waiter." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one most interesting one." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a article?" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." the room while you explain this matter?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." galvanised. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical vague figure huddled up in the darkness. him, that man would not have given me such complete information crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know to change my dress. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be purpose of examination. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "It may not come to that," said Holmes. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more my secret was safe in his possession. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Yes." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Where, then, is my wife?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the notes," he said. question," said Holmes, smiling. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "'Never,' said I. I. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker amused." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a and it need not interfere very much with one's other shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "In San Francisco, a year ago." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well several quiet little villages up there." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "From his hat?" "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "No, I think that I'll take it." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "You have it, sir, just as it happened." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner disturbance in my wife." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "The vanishing of the lady." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near forehead. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 the Red-headed League." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her children over to America with him, so that I found myself without that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "And how?" golden eyeglasses. "Yes." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry vault. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "What steps will you take?" I asked. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position with you alone." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in lectures into a series of tales." "What, then, did Peterson do?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the future lives." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. in the hope of finding them." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up of the way of danger. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Did he not advertise?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he than was visible to me." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "No, distinctly professional." then?" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "But who is he?" gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the companion. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Chief Executive and Director step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his conclusions. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am Pope's Court, Fleet Street." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Yes." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary brain must have something in it." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Then I am your man." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "To an end?" were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. feature." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Does that suggest anything?" was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are this truth that in these little records of our cases which you will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and looked back. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old have been better. It is all right." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "About a month then." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "You have compromised yourself seriously." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I was sure that I might rely on you." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven pressing in one house as in another. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "What then?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "At what time?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small ceremony." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "If so, much may have happened between." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in meant." to miss it." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "At the wedding breakfast." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Did your wife hear all this?" pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who http://gutenberg.net/license). and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "'Certainly not.' vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever since then to throw any light upon what became of him."