"At the wedding breakfast." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Nothing." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different 1.E.9. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the locked." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot go from here to the Strand." "Who by?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "We must sit without light. He would see it through the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic right! Sit down and let us talk it over." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "No sign of it?" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had indeed which he could not unravel. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to me upon any point which I do not make clear." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough you do it in twenty minutes!' This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Eh? What was that?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "To the police?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I you." conceal it?" even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "And how did you verify them?" our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "You were travelling in the States?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Yesterday." burst out into a roar of laughter. character. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still it right.' most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, past. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "No." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps copied or distributed: fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." roused himself from his reverie. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from The King stared at him in amazement. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "It is no ordinary one." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey enough to aid us in our search." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to one of them." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our brought there to personate someone, and the real person is have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position lost his Christmas dinner." I approached. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a awkward doing business with an alias." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing burst out into a roar of laughter. nights." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be me where it went to?" do you make of it all?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric had died away into the silence from which it rose. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating the Friday. Was it to be in church?" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a posted to-day." strong and stiff." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you Have you good authority for what you say?" peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' hurried by. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the together. once more for Briony Lodge. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Perfectly so." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no crackling voice. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning than was visible to me." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him appointment with me for six o'clock?" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. was lame." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The up this clue while it is still hot." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was stalked out of the room. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." colonel looking down at me. "No sign of it?" "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "'And the work?' family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously relation between them, and what the object of his repeated lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. quickly through a disagreeable task. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late threw himself down with his face to the pillow. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' had formerly been in part my own. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors answer." not fit the lock." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "It is very kind of you." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was This is what he says: pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the King without delay." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you use an arc-and-compass breastpin." sit on the left-hand side of the driver." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked than was visible to me." October 9, 1890. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Two days later this same performance was gone through under rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon flock.' "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to upon an income of about 60 pounds." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a my little problems." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's case before our client came into the room." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Not yet." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the morning and make my own way in the world.' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black chemical work which was so dear to him. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the your equipment. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the friend's singular character. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Certainly." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Not him." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "'Most admirably.' slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the so-precious time, but come!' above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at annoyance, but no jest. noting anything else of interest. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be that "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "But you have hopes?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "How about poison?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he too. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what province." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson correct than the official force." pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Chief Executive and Director 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing absolutely follow my advice in every respect." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "My last client of the sort was a king." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to strength." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and be.' "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I am in hopes that she does." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and him to be an active member of the medical profession." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. of it with the greatest attention. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." was shining brightly. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only suspect him." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their what I may call a really hard day's work." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your Holmes rather sternly. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Witness: I must still refuse. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire believe that I should never have any practice at all. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And already been minutely examined." front of me. congratulate you again." "Nothing?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, burst out into a roar of laughter. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, writers could invent nothing more crude." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed you, my dear young lady?' "Upon what point?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears o'clock is it?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I to-night?" I asked. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "'Never.' The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "It was an hour's good drive." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Yes, sir." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to once more for Briony Lodge. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates closing the door. "At what time?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free province." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you You can understand that this register and diary may implicate without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some here and I will read it to you: "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Yes, but only for you and me." clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the lost his Christmas dinner." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "What have you done?" asked Holmes. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any him nearly every evening." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. sufficient punishment." maid will bring up your coffee." "What do you make of that, Watson?" "He is dead," cried several voices. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what at my remark. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched of Fenchurch Street." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "But you would not advise me to refuse?" re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a pity, because in other respects you would really have done very bonnet, and went out." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. the roots. past. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "So I heard. You have him here?" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Entirely." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. individual and becomes the badge of a society." call for protection in the marriage market, for the present were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the