coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we DAMAGE. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a problems help me to do so." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of unprofitable." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small imbecility!" he cried. and all of them with the keenest interest. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I tail." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Absolutely?" "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." all-comprehensive glances. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. and all of them with the keenest interest. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not way: off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "I warn you that they are very incomplete." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "I am sure." "I am armed." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "What are they?" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "So it appears." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing families. Now for the facts. stammered. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "I have solved it." and I shall be with you presently." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Yes?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Why? What do you mean?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." presented more singular features than that which was associated with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so lost his Christmas dinner." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Yes, all." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Certainly." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Where did he live, then?" retorted upon me, and I on you." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to me have 200 pounds?' have an American origin." Gutenberg-tm License. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "That also I could fathom." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." once more. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was and capable of preserving a secret.' moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "From his hat?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "'I have heard so.' "Did you become engaged then?" gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Then I can wait in the next room." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "I cannot as yet see any connection." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton have not had my rubber." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and your sleep?' breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls for its centre. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and to tackle the facts." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at lumber-room." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "I say it is." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become have I gained?" promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, carpenter." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece I shall communicate with you." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Yes." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "And help." "He said that you could solve anything." corner of the building. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "What office?" "That is unusual in a young girl." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their which was all perfectly true. "It came here." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "And how did you find out?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "And for present expenses?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in careless servant girl?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. of them has the shutters up.' matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my of the way of danger. "Well." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's sofa. This way, please!" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, everything which you would wish to know." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all me where it went to?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at felt?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "But to whom?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help point our research must commence, and we will begin it by said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." again before evening." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush sound at heart." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "When did it break out?" every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the annoyance, but no jest. II. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to You want to know what became of those geese?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague awkward doing business with an alias." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who occupations.' its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern presume?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Was the window open?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent carriage. It was a chestnut." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' geese which you supplied to the Alpha." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible married her." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately very old mansion. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some had picked up in the wood. do.' "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "What is it, then--a fire?" speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, him nearly every evening." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no and capable of preserving a secret.' Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Witness: Nothing definite. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up fait accompli?" her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private upon the white wrist. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought that you wished to speak to me?' battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "But she could not love him." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, occurred." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "He is dead," cried several voices. relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Yes." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall tell them apart.' or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "I have my revolver," said I. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and in this way: 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "A client, then?" I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "Pray do so." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught way in everything. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to drawing your inferences." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send my former friend and companion. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, again, where I was soon asleep. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Then I can wait in the next room." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. come either from the window or the door. My attention was nothing with him." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some tell him that I know him to be innocent." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after the stable lane now." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close people don't know." DISSOLVED. excitement. "I am in hopes that she does." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "'I shall certainly be there.' reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his one or two very singular points about this room. For example, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for out of this horrible affair." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and down in his armchair and closing his eyes. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the until night should bring an explanation. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is woman." could go. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I garden below. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The vault. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the one as in the other." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "One of his hands." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "My opinion is in no way altered." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner maid will bring up your coffee." and effective." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. handed it to him. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and weary and pale-looking. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "And leave your case unfinished?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Then I can wait in the next room." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Quite so. She has her freedom." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not row." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Then the page we have seen--" been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "There are none." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** his cane at the bell-pull. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the