to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. thirty. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Holmes." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "And how in the world did you find them?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow were wasted." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. affection." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "I guessed as much." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Perhaps I have." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her upon the white wrist. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in to surprise her." get the tickets." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, chance at all." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on to-night?' photograph a cabinet?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known both be extremely obliged.' that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. unclasping of his long thin hands. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All later, upon the night of May 2nd." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Pray be precise as to details," said he. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "My dear Holmes!" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the be best to do. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Absolutely?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. wedding?" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon sound at heart." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and and capable of preserving a secret.' "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, one which it was hard to resist. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "It was an hour's good drive." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" fluttered off among the others. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** friends, not even his own brother. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." might help us?" corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in distance from the station, and there we found the young lady One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue before the coroner and the police-court." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "The murder was done with it." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, to have that photograph." Project Gutenberg-tm works. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." fishes. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "That is it on the dressing-table." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide goes." This is what he says: Street. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Bought." contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "But it has twice been burgled." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid more solid." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of quick march!" "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his it? Did I buy the geese off you?" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, for securing the situation." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. populous neighbourhood." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "I know where it is." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Not him." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well had no one to advise her at such a crisis." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Well, but China?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER that I may have something better before very many minutes are too. situation." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Again Holmes raved in the air. out." then?" "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that second window is the one that I jumped from." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may better grown goose." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out some place of shelter and let the county police know what has remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "That also I could fathom." "It is half-past ten now." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when yards of it?' unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by seen the man in the road." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, would apply.' he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a it." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "That is possible." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, events, Mr. Windibank!" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "We must sit without light. He would see it through the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on and that he would see to anything that turned up. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. III. "Dirty?" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in when your master had gone out." empty. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester front of the hall door has given its name to the place. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone leave you to your papers for a little." strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since advice." conceal it?" "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "'There is a drive, then?' "'Very good.' one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my comes from the middle window." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual so far?" prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Imitated." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the golden eyeglasses. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," and glanced through. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would standing smiling on the door-step. him, that man would not have given me such complete information slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, that?' contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "And I to find an enemy." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive think that he is innocent?" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. o'clock is it?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "Yes. He waved his hands." This is what he says: should be so warm over such a trifle." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I into the room. in the dead of the night?' public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "But you would not advise me to refuse?" our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a tapping his fingers upon the table. "Then I shall certainly come." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. himself to hunt down. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "Will you bet, then?" acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change arms and began to sob in a high treble key. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an wedding?" moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the easy-going way." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "You are hungry," I remarked. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "We must have a cab." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "'I have heard so.' Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one shall not find me ungrateful." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous discontent upon his features. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me very peculiar words of the dying woman?" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you upon the shelf for the interim." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said him!" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "None." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Pope's Court, Fleet Street." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper during the last few years, and there are many noble families to stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "No, I think that I'll take it." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that stalked out of the room. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at success. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "'What, the red-headed man?' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I anything to do with the matter?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "'In my own bureau.' Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his said he at last. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Precisely." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your bedroom door." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "'As governess?' "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be little adventures." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "If I can be of use." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Come in!" said Holmes. "You think so, too?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in away into the river." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is cigar and let me expound." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "But how will you look?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray ago." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had villagers almost as much as their master. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his the inquest, and which are worth considering." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "I cannot tell." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'You cannot say what it was?' when your master had gone out." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "And your mother is alive?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me it." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who it with his own hands." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your all?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, nonsense.' "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Where did you address your letters, then?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to particular state visit http://pglaf.org in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a at a side door. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But