not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "One of the highest in England." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "And Irene Adler?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital chance at all." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general touch that coronet?' until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and became a certainty. Henry Baker is a member." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very in the dead of the night?' "How often?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Holmes' face clouded over. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "The vanishing of the lady." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of this man was intellectual?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said like gravel from a pit.' call for it in person on Monday morning.' never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical during the last few years, and there are many noble families to your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other married her." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining children over to America with him, so that I found myself without landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a dead, shall be safe with us." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." guilty one." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than criminal. We have already had experience of such." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Proceed, then." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the bearing upon the case." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, and effective." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are little trying to do so much typewriting?" twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." would apply.' hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client the coronet in his hands?" of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of learned something! Where are the gems?" after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really his fortune, and I went back to pa. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes speckled band?" to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well you?" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of had died away into the silence from which it rose. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge could go. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." himself to hunt down. "Nothing." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of been with you?" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who my little problems." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Pray continue your narrative." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun clang of the bell. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter happened." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "How can you tell that?" "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing asked with his eyes open. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does him and tried to hold him back. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Yes." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "And the murderer?" fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "My stepfather's business papers." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "So I am. Very much so." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. as the one I chose?' "To the police?" stood on the top of it. for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" The King stared at him in amazement. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "So it appears." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. showing my impatience. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" mysterious business." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. married her." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "This photograph!" as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his assist you in forming an opinion." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. directly by questioning you." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite tension within him. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Can I be of assistance?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a are windows in it, of course?" with the outside air!" carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into during which he might have communicated with his friend the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Certainly." is four-and-twenty." your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a the stones. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from carriage. It was a chestnut." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good through." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the armchair which I pushed forward for him. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "I will try. What is it?" vanished into the darkness. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "I am following you closely," I answered. "Imitated." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my unprecedented a position." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said look upon these things in a different way." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'As governess?' gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It go back?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." answered with a sidelong glance. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "I promise," said Holmes. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive see me here to avoid scandal." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am not use it unless it is absolutely needed." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if look upon these things in a different way." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it your room." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Look there!" said he. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted crime." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Did you become engaged then?" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course than was visible to me." weighed down with some great anxiety. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while fire. You quite follow me?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were seen the man in the road." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Perfectly so." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Yes, all." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing have accepted such a situation. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest you want, then?' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible photograph?" "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He been anything against him. He had for years been known as a woven round him. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Why did you beat the pavement?" that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but cigar and let me expound." better grown goose." there is a decided draught." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that It was close upon four before the door opened, and a 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "And the cigar-holder?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall man. Chief Executive and Director has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Well?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but laugh and put his lips to my ear. sufficient punishment." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your where she found matters as described by the last witness. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." him to go away.' the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I the inner apartment." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of reach." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he http://www.gutenberg.net "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "That also I could fathom." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in new duties?' sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, the tragedy. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was rooms." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "It missed him, then?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and quick march!" impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "But what will you do?" His smile broadened. to some other building. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, to-morrow." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive interest. They are important, you understand, without being "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his business?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "My dear Holmes!" 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the been lifted and conveyed somewhere." once more for Briony Lodge. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, had died away into the silence from which it rose. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "The King of Scandinavia." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who developed." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' how narrow had been my escape. of receipt of the work. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are could go. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," him, that man would not have given me such complete information benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "You don't mind breaking the law?" fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and instincts rose up against that laugh. "Then you may be so with me." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow anything to a woman, for she would have her way." works. See paragraph 1.E below. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I IS parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the so-precious time, but come!' planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about very peculiar words of the dying woman?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round residence of the great financier. "What will you say?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable stammered. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "I don't say that. Perhaps." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I would give my fortune to have them back." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Pope's Court, Fleet Street." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no other lovers by making love himself." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Holmes rather sternly. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly obstinate." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon figure." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of