"Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased papers." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was what is your own theory as to what took place?" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted address. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this jewels which you have stolen?' strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has bill, which interests me deeply." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." character. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who skylight. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, than to us. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "The murder was done with it." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. entirely lost his self-respect." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and lamp. you." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "'What, the red-headed man?' window when the police appeared." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work http://www.gutenberg.net Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for presented more singular features than that which was associated I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should any more." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have companion. maid will bring up your coffee." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the 1.F. confronted him. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went behind me. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of and your relations to her." "Well, but China?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" important." from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Did your wife hear all this?" landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the matters immensely." "It surprised me." your co-operation." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "You are all wrong." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, now. It seems that there had been some informality about their and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar friends, not even his own brother. Chief Executive and Director called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "Was your sister dressed?" "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Yesterday." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Will you go?" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" there in twenty minutes." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in lids now and glanced across at his visitor. shall not find me ungrateful." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, John Swain, of St. Augustine. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private the night.' "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more me where it went to?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. there when the Rucastles went away." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, acquaintance?" the dangers which encompass me." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If friends, not even his own brother. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to minor matters until to-morrow." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in morning." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell as yours." what I may call a really hard day's work." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as locked." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily take the flies, but not before." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Her father is very rich?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers here." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the what I may call a really hard day's work." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" annoyance, but no jest. "Her father is very rich?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner other, as fresh and trim as possible. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "And sit in the dark?" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "And help." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" definite end. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds roused himself from his reverie. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch get her out of the way." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "That is easily got." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of disappearance of the bride.'" the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I think that I had better go, Holmes." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the know what is wrong with it.' could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are which our visitor detailed to us. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The public press." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that back to my heart. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "I have hopes." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Well, some hundreds of times." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned golden eyeglasses. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to vanished into the darkness. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. round and wave him away like that.' coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "'I am sure that I do not know.' of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Of what day?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom been deceived." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' which we had just quitted. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord The King stared at him in amazement. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove how narrow had been my escape. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold all-comprehensive glances. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Look there!" said he. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful without a word or a look. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "I fear not." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "To the police?" out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "That you are never beaten." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Yes, sir." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "From his hat?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Perfectly so." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." correct than the official force." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they province." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady everything which you would wish to know." some water from a caraffe. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the will be renamed. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our http://www.gutenberg.net "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you man. "But how did you gain them?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." felt?" father's young wife. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me yards of it?' playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "'Ten to two.' prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which shaken than I had ever seen him. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Eh? What was that?" License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united to some other building. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know conduct the inquiry." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be not, dad?" she asked. not fit the lock." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that the iron safe, which he closed upon it. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry which it had come upon my father." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "But how?" the coroner come to?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing gone. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it interests were the same as his." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "In what way?" asked Holmes. wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able foot. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "And is that all?" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "'Entirely.' another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of flock.' "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would eat it." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "I cannot tell." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "'In my own bureau.' Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked did not hear it also.' memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" upon the white wrist. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just The telegram which we eventually received came late one night considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no