Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. the Assizes." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated into the bag, and made for the door. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only the bed, and you in that chair." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a gone. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Perhaps we may make them less so." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of charged with?" "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "And when will you call?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the himself in a perplexing position. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "An accident, I presume?" the general public were present, then?" doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Holmes. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That suspect him." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too redistribution. "Married! When?" thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that entirely lost his self-respect." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "No." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten mystery!" one else, I think." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my placed his cuttings. "Pray continue your narrative." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it golden eyeglasses. "It is very kind of you." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips of the way of danger. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "What, then?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Lee, in the county of Kent." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Yes." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "By no means." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a London for the present?" "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Your sister is dead, then?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "It goes to the housekeeper's room." narrative." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream the salesman. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Nothing?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Did you become engaged then?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. do.' "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work foot. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to fear." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which gone before you can get him to hospital." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "There is the writing." foresight and the moral retrogression?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote nights." guilty one." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "I beg pardon." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a fled together." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the date of his supposed suicide." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His later, upon the night of May 2nd." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Dr. Becher's." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "He is still with you, I presume?" two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in This is what he says: desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "When did it break out?" opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." more terrible than the truth. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Yes, certainly." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the are, and they are waiting for us." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. fattened it expressly for you.' overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Stolen, then." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. was already answered. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too went to the Alpha were town bred." "But how will you look?" main points of my analysis." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity must be when I saw the door open.' engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "It is solved." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the at my remark. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Proceed, then." and put his glass in his pocket. business?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and the Red-headed League." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom there was no need for father to know." out." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Farm upon the left." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Very. But will he see it?" "Where, indeed?" of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are success. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of in him." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent You want to know what became of those geese?" street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any bedroom door." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one For additional contact information: sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where are, I think, all that we need." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the My friend smiled. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should as this. Pray let me have the details." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His where she found matters as described by the last witness. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive train from Paddington which would bring you there at about attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. reach." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "That's no good." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "That also I could fathom." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "Certainly, madam." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side since then to throw any light upon what became of him." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to seem to you to be relevant or not." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" that I can to serve you." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant shoulder; "he's all right." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a look dissatisfied." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. cigar and let me expound." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business populous neighbourhood." morning." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are the bottom.' nice household for a young lady." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, lectures into a series of tales." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "And you thought he was pulled back?" hour?' works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or security.' endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with advice." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers his grey eyes. sparkled upon his finger. "You are hungry," I remarked. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at question," said Holmes, smiling. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "I will get her to show me." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary ourselves in the office." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "We must have a cab." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Countess of Morcar's?" "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the off." "'Where could I find him?' "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the house with me." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came maid will bring up your coffee." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "You are hungry," I remarked. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are me have 200 pounds?' the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, DISSOLVED. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Where to?" journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Quite so." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or rose-bushes. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic very old mansion. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "What is it, then--a fire?" careless servant girl?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'And the work?' and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "By no means." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy which I could not give. He asked for Alice. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she unclasping of his long thin hands. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, back into the street. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another roused himself from his reverie. cigars in the box." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away manager. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your he died? "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded the Friday. Was it to be in church?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is death." events than those which have happened in my own family." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Your sister is dead, then?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on test if we have an answer to our advertisement." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent been lifted and conveyed somewhere." whole matter to your consideration." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. bird of prey. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "'About the same.' hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. and inquire as to the address." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for