that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an a few minutes he said that it would be all right. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, felt the room to be a little close.' was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "How did he come?" "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "'Stolen!' he cried. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, fire. You quite follow me?" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and not, dad?" she asked. "What then?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Certainly." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of might help us?" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Precisely." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double since then to throw any light upon what became of him." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Well, but China?" from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would My friend smiled. Pope's Court. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across question. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have sit on the left-hand side of the driver." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may hard-headed British jury." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case that you saw all that I did." at my own good fortune. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old stood on the top of it. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "No, finished." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his in the port of London." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of bled considerably." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his for the market.' intrusion of other matters." slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly will be renamed. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very disturbance in my wife." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in highroad, where all traces were lost. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down indeed which he could not unravel. "But what will you do?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so sparkled upon his finger. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against was not a bird to be seen there. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included fashion which was peculiar to him. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies chambers. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when bearing upon the case." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, security.' story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his and have this put in the evening papers." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" get the tickets." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into been." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. companion. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she imbecility!" he cried. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had of this gang." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "And how?" she used." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" dear old homesteads?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael that, and I came down." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Of Friday, June 19th." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "And who is her maid?" narrative." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Oh, fresh and glossy." in his hands." "And leave your case unfinished?" tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to on re-entering her father's house?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. me. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt drove away. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' lost his Christmas dinner." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood know that the truth is known." that I am arrested." years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray as yours." Does that suggest anything?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "And how have you succeeded?" coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the said he. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain know all about it," he snarled. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the ceiling. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "That is easily got." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, feature." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Look there!" said he. Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old existence." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have were wasted." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Was she in good spirits?" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Tired-looking or fresh?" left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of States. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Where, then, is my wife?" dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with habit of advancing money.' I. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in morning." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal Sholtos." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I matter." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "I was afraid that you were engaged." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Pray be precise as to details," said he. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Most admirably.' "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Holmes rather sternly. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" could go. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and train from Paddington which would bring you there at about plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very away into the river." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Yes, sir." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry is now desirous of getting those letters back." hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which your billet.' "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "I do." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they I approached. unkempt, staring out at me. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point 11:15.' severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes exactly what you advise." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and with her." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "No sign of it?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home 1.F. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. laugh and put his lips to my ear. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "But to whom?" "'Ten to two.' weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "I have come for advice." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Could he throw no light?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "And why in hopes?" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. as he remarks, very much against the son." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "And now?" He raised his hand. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "It is very kind of you." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'I am sure if I had known--' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "But who is he?" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to the matter?" used to be." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." chance." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly fact, we may call it conclusive." "Was he the only applicant?" "None." was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "I promise," said Holmes. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and their singular warning or token before them when starting upon and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. from the brougham. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "How did that help you?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version hereditary King of Bohemia." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was you?' Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in your billet.' evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, disappearance of the bride.'" waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "It is solved." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "No, thank goodness, she did not." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord confronted him. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Yes." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open